Coulomb energy losses by 3-MeV protons in a capillary discharge channel are used as a diagnostics tool to measure the plasma density. By combining the proton energy loss data with the electron temperature measurements,we have been able to diagnose the free electron density n fe ϭ6.4ϫ10 19 cm Ϫ3 in a 3.3-eV CH 2 plasma to an accuracy of Ϯ17%. A considerably better accuracy can be expected for higher values of the electron temperature. ͓S1063-651X͑98͒08101-X͔ PACS number͑s͒: 52.40.Mj, 34.50.Bw

A specifically tailored plasma lens could shape a high-energy, heavy-ion beam into the form of a hollow cylinder without loss of beam intensity. It has been experimentally confirmed that both a positive as well as a negative radial gradient of the current density in the active plasma lens can be the underlying principle. Calculations were performed that yield the ideal current density distribution for both cases. A numerical simulation of an experiment with an intense ion beam highlights that the shaping of the beam increases the achievable compression in a lead sample.

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