A status overview of the development of laser ion sources suited to heavy ion synchrotrons is presented. The results of experimental and theoretical studies, recently obtained at a number of laboratories, for laser-produced highly charged heavy ions are summarized for plasmas heated by long wavelength lasers. Design of a powerful repetition rate CO2 laser, target interaction chamber, and extraction system suited for reliable long term operation mode with real accelerators is discussed. Requirements for the final performance of the laser ion sources for ion beam injectors at the ITEP-Moscow and CERN accelerator facilities are given.

Articles you may be interested inPhysics research and technology developments of electron string ion sourcesa) Rev. Sci. Instrum. 83, 02A512 (2012); 10.1063/1.3678660 H − source developments at CERN Rev. Sci. Instrum. 77, 03A521 (2006);The high current, high charge-state ion beam which can be extracted from a laser produced plasma is well suited, after initial acceleration, for injection into synchrotrons. At CERN, the production of a heavy ion beam using a CO 2 laser ion source is studied. The latest results of experiments with a tantalum ion beam with charge states up to 23ϩ and accelerated by a radio frequency quadrupole from 6.9 to 100 keV/u, are presented along with simulations of the low energy beam transport. The ion yield at the desired charge state, the pulse to pulse stability of the ion beam, and the system reliability are all of major interest. Work is under way to replace the low repetition rate free-running laser oscillator by a master oscillator and power amplifier system. The master oscillator is operational and the first results of measurements of its beam quality and stability are presented.

A laser ion source using a CO 2 laser focused onto a solid target is under study at CERN for the production of high currents of highly-charged heavy ions, for possible use in the pre-injector for LHC. A new expansion and extraction layout was installed in this test facility, improving the alignment and making the target to extraction distance more flexible. A two solenoid beam transport system was studied for providing the matching of the beam to an RFQ. An electrostatic beam transport using gridded electrostatic lenses was designed and constructed as an alternative to a magnetic system. Results show an increased overall current transmission for the electrostatic case. Investigation of the laser parameters required for the production of 1.4x1010 Pb 25+ ions in a 5 µs pulse, has been performed using the TIR-1 laser facility at power densities up to 10 14 Wcm -2 for a focal spot size of 65 µm. The results of the latest scaling are presented.

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