High energy density physics generated by intense heavy ion beams

Abstract

Intense ion beams from accelerators are now available to generate high energy density matter and to study astrophysical phenomena in the laboratory under controlled and reproducible conditions. A detailed understanding of interaction phenomena of intense ion-and laser radiation with matter is important for a large number of applications in different fields of science, extending from basic research of plasma properties to application in energy science and the investigation of processes occurring in stellar atmospheres or even in the interior of stars and planets. Energy loss processes of heavy ions in plasma and cold matter are important for the generation of high energy density states in general and especially in the hot dense plasma of an inertial fusion target. Of special interest are phase transitions and the associated time scales when matter passes the warm dense matter regime of the phase diagram at high density but relatively low temperature. We present an overview on recent results and developments of beam plasma, and beam matter interaction processes studied with heavy ion beams and laser beams combined with accelerator and nuclear physics technology. A natural example of hot dense plasma is provided by our neighbouring star the sun, and allows a deep insight into the physics of fusion, the properties of matter at high energy density, and is moreover an excellent laboratory for astroparticle physics. As such the sun's interior plasma can even be used to probe the existence of novel particles and dark matter candidates with a combination of equipment and methods from accelerator technology and high resolution plasma spectroscopy.

Enhanced collective focusing of intense neutralized ion beam pulses in the presence of weak solenoidal magnetic fields

“…[1][2][3][4][5] For instance, WDM density-temperature regimes similar to the interiors of giant planets and low-mass stars are accessible in compact beam-driven experiments. 1,2 Furthermore, in addition to fundamental physics applications, the use of intense heavy ion beams for compression and heating of a target fuel is a promising approach to inertial confinement fusion energy applications.…”

“…1,2 Furthermore, in addition to fundamental physics applications, the use of intense heavy ion beams for compression and heating of a target fuel is a promising approach to inertial confinement fusion energy applications. [1][2][3][4][5] An intense high energy ion beam is produced and delivered to the target by an ion driver, as shown in the schematic in Fig. 1.…”

High energy density physics research at IMP, Lanzhou, China

“…The key parameters related to HEDP research at the HIAF and other advanced heavy ion drivers are listed in Table 1, where E 0 , N , E total , S f , t, and E ρ are the particle energy, the beam intensity (in units of ppp), the total beam energy per pulse, the FWHM of the beam spot, the pulse duration, and the energy density in a lead target, respectively [2][3][4] .…”

“…Email: zhaoyt@impcas.ac.cn by methods of high energy proton/ion radiography and in fast ignition of a compressed fuel. Associated investigations have been pursued with increasing intensity by major accelerator laboratories and institutions in Europe, the USA, Russia, and Japan, where significant progress has been made during the last few decades [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] .…”

Two-dimensional quantum hydrodynamic model for the heating of a solid target using a Gaussian cluster

“…Interaction processes of ion beam or cluster with matter are important for the applications in basic and applied physics (Patel et al, 2003;Brambrink et al, 2006;Tahir et al, 2009a), laboratory accelerator (Tahir et al, 2009b), inertial confinement fusion (ICF) (Deutsch, 1986;Deutsch et al, 1989;Hora, 2007;Hoffmann, 2008), astrophysical processes (Nettelmann et al, 2008), heavy ion beam research (Hoffmann et al, 2010;Stöckl et al, 1996;Tahir et al, 2007), and high energy density physics (HEDP) (Tahir et al, 2005;Nellis, 2006;Hoffmann et al, 2009). HEDP is understood to be the thermodynamic regime where the energy density exceeds 10 11 J/m 3 or equivalent pressure of 1 Mbar and above.…”