Electromagnetically confined plasma target for interaction studies with intense laser fields

Abstract

The paper describes a novel application of an electron beam ion trap as a plasma target facility for intense laser-plasma interaction studies. The low density plasma target (~10 /cm3 ) is confined in a mobile cryogenic electromagnetic charged particle trap, with the magnetic confinement field of 1-3 T maintained by a superconducting magnet. Ion plasmas for a large variety of ion species and charge states are produced and maintained within the magnetic field and the space-charge of an energetic electron beam in the ''electron beam ion trap'' (EBIT) geometry. Intense laser beams (optical lasers, X-ray lasers and upcoming ''X-ray free electron lasers'' (XFEL)) provide strong time varying electromagnetic fields (>10 12 V/cm in femto-to nano-second pulses) for interactions with electromagnetically confined neutral/non-neutral plasmas. Experimental scenarios with intense photon fields on ionization/excitation processes, the ionization balance, as well as photon polarization effects and tests with intense lasers that utilize the ion plasma target are outlined. A first test of the plasma target with the PHELIX high intensity laser at GSI is described.

The new Stockholm Electron Beam Ion Trap (S-EBIT)

“…Polarization studies with heavy ions will become possible with the high energy electron beam of S-EBIT. For measuring photoexcitation of HCIs one can also set up a mobile version of S-EBIT at an intense laser [15], FEL or synchrotron.…”