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High-energy heavy ions are an ideal tool to generate homogeneously excited, extended volumes of nonthermal plasmas. Here, the high-energy loss (dE/dx) and absolute power deposition of heavy ions interacting with matter has been used to pump an ultraviolet laser. A pulsed 70 MeV/u 238U beam with up to 2.5 x 10(9) particles in approximately 100 ns beam bunches was stopped in a 1.2 m long laser cell filled with a 1.6 bar Ar-Kr-F2 mixture (typically 50%:49.9%:0.1%). Laser effect on the 248 nm KrF* excimer transition is clearly demonstrated.

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Experiments to investigate the space charge compensation of pulsed high-current heavy ion beams are performed at the GSI ion source text benches with a 4-grid analyzer provided by CEA/Saclay. The technical design of the 4-grid analyzer is revised to verify its functionality for measurements at pulsed high-current heavy ion beams. The experimental investigation of space charge compensation processes is needed to increase the performance and quality of current and future accelerator facilities. Measurements are performed directly downstream a triode extraction system mounted to a multi-cusp ion source at a high-current test bench as well as downstream the post-acceleration system of the high-current test injector (HOSTI) with ion energies up to 120 keV/u for helium and argon. At HOSTI, a cold or hot reflex discharge ion source is used to change the conditions for the measurements. The measurements were performed with helium, argon, and xenon and are presented. Results from measurements with single aperture extraction systems are shown.

In this work, the latest results of developing high current ion beams of Au and Bi at GSI facility are described. The difficulties in the production of required charge state in vacuum arc discharge ion sources using the pure materials in the cathodes are discussed. As a possible solution, admix of a small amount of more refractory metal to the cathode material is considered. As a significant result, a dramatic improvement in the production of high charge state Bi ions using the mixed Bi-Cu cathodes (with 8%-15% of Cu admixed) compared to pure Bi cathodes is presented. The preliminary results of investigation of the material structure of Bi-Cu cathodes are discussed. As a next step, it is planned to test the composition of Au with Pd, Zr, and Fe as cathode materials.