Atomic physics with ions stored in the round

Abstract

The talk contained examples of recent atomic physics experiments with stored and cooled ion beams from different ion storage-ring facilities. Here, we first introduce the principles of storage rings and electron cooling. A whole class of experiments exploits the cold electron beams available in the electron coolers and electron targets of storage rings. The recombination experiments have applications in fusion and astrophysical plasmas. Dielectronic resonances at meV to eV energies are measured with a resolution and absolute accuracy to much below a meV. The measurements of these resonances provide a serious challenge to theories for describing correlation, relativistic, quantum electrodynamical effects, and isotope shifts in highly ionized ions. Experiments with internal targets in storage rings use the high luminosity of cooled MeV ions for collisions. First measurements demonstrate the resolution with a He RIMS apparatus (He gas-jet Target for Recoil Ion Momentum Spectroscopy) in Thomas-like electron-transfer processes by protons. An outlook into the future with the new Facility for Anti-proton and Ion Research (FAIR) and the Stored Particle Atomic Research Collaboration (SPARC) is given. © 2007 IOP Publishing Ltd.