An ultra-cold target for precision studies of heavy-ion atom collisions

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The physics of highly-charged ions (HCI), the most abundant form of visible matter in the Universe, is of particular interest for fundamental as well as practical reasons in astrophysical and earth-bound plasmas. Recently, considerable progress has been made in the investigation of their static electronic structure as well as of the dynamics when they interact with matter due to newly-developed technologies, storage-rings and traps, making them routinely avail-able for experiments. Within this grant application it is proposed to combine, for the first time, three innovative technologies to advance our knowledge of basic dynamic processes in heavy-ion atom collisions as well as of their electronic structure to unprecedented detail: (i) a magneto-optical trap will provide an ultra-cold and well confined target in a (ii) “Reaction Microscope” allowing to determine the momenta of all target fragments both implemented in (iii) present and next-generation cooler ion storage rings like the ESR at the present GSI, the planned NESR at the upcoming FAIR facility or the TSR delivering beams of utmost intensity and quality.