High Current Plasma Lens (Status and New Developments)

Abstract

Electrostatic Plasma Lenses may be beyond comparison as a tool for focusing and manipulating of high-current heavy ion beams. The reason for this is a principal quasi-neutrality of such beams; under these conditions it is not possible to use traditional vacuum electrostatic lenses. At the same time, employment of vacuum magneto-static lenses for heavy ions focusing requires highly expensive efforts for creation of considerable magnetic fields. Thereupon, employment of Plasma Lenses which do not require considerable electric and magnetic fields, especially for moderate energy (10–100keV) heavy ion beams focusing, may represent an attractive and unique alternative. Here we briefly review the plasma lens (PL) fundamentals and summarize some recent developments (experiments, theory, computer simulations) that has been performed at the Institute of Physics National Academy of Science of Ukraine and at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, USA. We show that there is a very narrow range of low magnetic field for which the optical properties of the lens improve drastically. This open up attractive possibilities for elaboration new generation compact PL based on permanent magnets. The first experimental results obtained in 2001 at Kiev and Berkeley on the operation of a permanent magnet PL are presented and summarized based on computer modeling stationary processes at volume PL and theoretical calculations.