Th. Stöhlker

Charge states of relativistic heavy ions in matter

Experimental and theoretical results on charge-exchange cross-sections and charge-state distributions of relativistic heavy ions penetrating through matter are presented. The data were taken at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory’s BEVALAC accelerator and at the heavy-ion synchrotron SIS of GSI in Darmstadt in the energy range 80‐1000 MeV/u. Beams from Xe to U impinging on solid and gaseous targets between Be and U were used. Theoretical models for the charge-state evolution inside matter for a given initial charge state are presented. For this purpose, computer codes have been developed, which are briefly described. Examples are given which show the successes and limitations of the models. ” 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Stripping of fast heavy low-charged ions in gaseous targets

Abstract Projectile-ionization (stripping) cross-sections and beam lifetimes have been calculated for heavy low-charged ions of Pb, Bi and U colliding with H, He, Be, Li, F, N, Ar and Xe atoms in the E =1–100 MeV/u energy range. Calculations have been performed for single-electron processes in the Born approximation using the LOSS computer code accounting for the atomic structure of the target. Results are compared with available experimental data, CTMC calculations and Z 2 + Z scaling where Z is the nuclear charge of the target atom. In the case of Pb-like ions (Pb 0+ ,Bi 1+ ,…,U 10+ ), the scaling law for the stripping cross-sections on the projectile charge and the target nuclear charge is obtained. In the energy range considered, the calculated cross-sections are proportional to Z 1.4 due to the screening of the target nucleus by its electrons which differs markedly from the Z 2 -dependence given by the first-order perturbation theory. The role of multi-electron processes is briefly discussed.

Ultrahigh compression of water using intense heavy ion beams: laboratory planetary physics

Intense heavy ion beams offer a unique tool for generating samples of high energy density matter with extreme conditions of density and pressure that are believed to exist in the interiors of giant planets. An international accelerator facility named FAIR (Facility for Antiprotons and Ion Research) is being constructed at Darmstadt, which will be completed around the year 2015. It is expected that this accelerator facility will deliver a bunched uranium beam with an intensity of 5x10(11) ions per spill with a bunch length of 50-100 ns. An experiment named LAPLAS (Laboratory Planetary Sciences) has been proposed to achieve a low-entropy compression of a sample material like hydrogen or water (which are believed to be abundant in giant planets) that is imploded in a multi-layered target by the ion beam. Detailed numerical simulations have shown that using parameters of the heavy ion beam that will be available at FAIR, one can generate physical conditions that have been predicted to exist in the interior of giant planets. In the present paper, we report simulations of compression of water that show that one can generate a plasma phase as well as a superionic phase of water in the LAPLAS experiments.

Measurement of the ground-state lambshift of hydrogenlike uranium at the electron cooler of the ESR

X-rays are emitted with the radiative recombination of free electrons in an electron cooler of a heavyion storage ring. Due to a small width of the X-ray lines, an observation angle close to 0° and an accurate determination of the ion velocity, the ground-state Lambshift of hydrogenlike uranium (470 ± 16) eV could be measured to an accuracy of 3.4%. A re-evaluation of a measurement of the 1s1/2 Lambshift in hydrogenlike gold gave a new value of (202.3 ± 7.9) eV as compared to the former value of (212 ± 15) eV. The results are in excellent agreement with QED calculations and are more precise than any other measurements previously reported for a high-Z, hydrogenlike ion.

High-resolution measurement of the time-modulated orbital electron capture and of the β+ decay of hydrogen-like 142Pm60+ ions

Abstract The periodic time modulations, found recently in the two-body orbital electron capture (EC) decay of both, hydrogen-like 140Pr58+ and 142Pm60+ ions, with periods near to 7 s and amplitudes of about 20%, were re-investigated for the case of 142Pm60+ by using a 245 MHz resonator cavity with a much improved sensitivity and time resolution. We observed that the exponential EC decay is modulated with a period T = 7.11 ( 11 ) s , in accordance with a modulation period T = 7.12 ( 11 ) s as obtained from simultaneous observations with a capacitive pick-up, employed also in the previous experiments. The modulation amplitudes amount to a R = 0.107 ( 24 ) and a P = 0.134 ( 27 ) for the 245 MHz resonator and the capacitive pick-up, respectively. These new results corroborate for both detectors exactly our previous findings of modulation periods near to 7 s , though with distinctly smaller amplitudes. Also the three-body β + decays have been analyzed. For a supposed modulation period near to 7 s we found an amplitude a = 0.027 ( 27 ) , compatible with a = 0 and in agreement with the preliminary result a = 0.030 ( 30 ) of our previous experiment. These observations could point at weak interaction as origin of the observed 7 s -modulation of the EC decay. Furthermore, the data suggest that interference terms occur in the two-body EC decay, although the neutrinos are not directly observed.

Projectile electron loss and capture in MeV/u collisions of U28+ with H2, N2 and Ar

Electron capture and loss cross sections for U28+ colliding with H2, N2 and Ar were measured at 3.5 and 6.5 MeV/u. These data were used to benchmark n-body calculations using the classical trajectory Monte Carlo method. The n-body calculations include electrons on both nuclear centres and all electron–electron and electron–nuclear interactions between each centre. For the U28+ ion, 36 electrons were incorporated in the calculations (4s24p64d104f145s25p2), while for the H, N and Ar targets all electrons were used except those for the K-shell of Ar, leading to 39-, 45- and 54-body calculations, respectively. Projectile electron loss was predicted for U28+ at energies from 2 to 150 MeV/u. Only for the H-target did the projectile electron loss cross section decrease approximately as E−1. The heavier targets exhibited slower energy dependences, contrary to the E−1 prediction of one-electron theories. Moreover, the collisional interactions are quite strong with an average of 1.64 and 2.88 electrons removed from the U28+ ion at 10 MeV/u in each collision with N and Ar, respectively. These data and calculations were used to assess the vacuum requirements for the SIS-100 synchrotron ring under construction at GSI-Darmstadt. For the residual gases expected to be in the ring, the U28+ lifetime was found to be essentially constant as a function of projectile energy, leading to very stringent vacuum requirements.

The Physics of Highly Charged Heavy Ions Revealed by Storage/Cooler Rings

Publisher Summary This chapter presents an overview of the current advances in the rapidly developing field of heavy ion accelerator technology. Now, essential aspects in this area are accessible. In the meantime, great progress already has been made in the fundamental physics in this field. This is particularly true for achievements in the atomic physics of highly charged heavy ions. There are two general domains to be considered in the atomic physics of highly charged heavy ions: the fields of collisions and of atomic structure. Both aspects have to be explored equally because they are strongly interconnected. The interaction processes has to be investigated to know, for instance, the population of excited states to help answer questions on the atomic structure; conversely, the structure has to be known to understand the interactions. In both the fields, fundamental principles can be studied uniquely. This is in particular true for the heaviest ion species with only a few- or even zero-electrons left.

Charge states and energy loss of relativistic heavy ions in matter

Abstract Relativistic heavy-ion collisions of few-electron projectiles ranging from argon up to uranium have been investigated in solid and gaseous media. Electron-loss and electron-capture cross sections, charge-state distributions, as well as energy loss and energy deposition have been measured and are compared with theoretical predictions. Especially fully-ionized heavy projectiles represent a unique possibility to test atomic-collision theories.

Schottky mass measurements of heavy neutron-rich nuclides in the element range 70 <= Z <= 79 at the GSI Experimental Storage Ring

D. Shubina, 2, 3 R.B. Cakirli, 4 Yu.A. Litvinov, 3 K. Blaum, C. Brandau, 5 F. Bosch, J.J. Carroll, R.F. Casten, D.M. Cullen, I.J. Cullen, A.Y. Deo, B. Detwiler, C. Dimopoulou, F. Farinon, H. Geissel, 11 E. Haettner, M. Heil, R.S. Kempley, C. Kozhuharov, R. Knobel, J. Kurcewicz, N. Kuzminchuk, S.A. Litvinov, Z. Liu, R. Mao, C. Nociforo, F. Nolden, Z. Patyk, W.R. Plass, A. Prochazka, M.W. Reed, 15 M.S. Sanjari, 16 C. Scheidenberger, 11 M. Steck, Th. Stohlker, 17, 18 B. Sun, 19 T.P.D. Swan, G. Trees, P.M. Walker, 20 H. Weick, N. Winckler, 3 M. Winkler, P.J. Woods, T. Yamaguchi, and C. Zhou Max-Planck-Institut fur Kernphysik, Saupfercheckweg 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany Fakultat fur Physik und Astronomie, Universitat Heidelberg, Philosophenweg 12, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany GSI Helmholtzzentrum fur Schwerionenforschung, Planckstrase 1, 64291 Darmstadt, Germany Department of Physics, University of Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey ExtreMe Matter Institute EMMI, GSI Helmholtzzentrum fur Schwerionenforschung, 64291 Darmstadt, Germany US Army Research Laboratory, 2800 Powder Mill Road, Adelphi MD, USA Wright Nuclear Structure Laboratory, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA Schuster Laboratory, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom Department of Physics, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH, United Kingdom Youngstown State University, One University Plaza, Youngstown, Ohio 44555, USA II Physikalisches Institut, Justus-Liebig-Universitat Giesen, 35392 Giesen, Germany School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3JZ, United Kingdom Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, People’s Republic of China National Centre for Nuclear Research, PL-00681 Warsaw, Poland Department of Nuclear Physics, R.S.P.E., Australian National University, Canberra ACT 0200, Australia Goethe-Universitat Frankfurt, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany Friedrich-Schiller-Universitat Jena, 07737 Jena, Germany Helmholtz-Institut Jena, 07743 Jena, Germany School of Physics and Nuclear Energy Engineering, Beihang University, 100191 Beijing, PRC CERN, CH-1211 Geneva 23, Switzerland Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama 338-8570, Japan Storage-ring mass spectrometry was applied to neutron-rich Au projectile fragments. Masses of Lu, Hf, Ta, W, and Re nuclei were measured for the first time. The uncertainty of previously known masses of W and Os nuclei was improved. Observed irregularities on the smooth two-neutron separation energies for Hf and W isotopes are linked to the collectivity phenomena in the corresponding nuclei.

Status and perspectives of atomic physics research at GSI: The new GSI accelerator project

A short overview on the results of atomic physics research at the storage ring ESR is given followed by a presentation of the envisioned atomic physics program at the planned new GSI facility. The proposed new GSI facility will provide highest intensities of relativistic beams of both stable and unstable heavy nuclei - up to a Lorentz factor of 24. At those relativistic velocities, the energies of optical transitions, such as for lasers.. are boosted into the X-ray region and the high-charge state ions generate electric and magnetic fields of exceptional strength. Together with high beam intensities a range of important experiments can be anticipated, for example electronic transitions in relativistic heavy-ion collisions such as dynamically induced e(+)e(-) pairs, test of quantum electrodynamics (QED) in strong fields, and ions and electrons in ultra-high intensity femtosecond laser fields