High-intensity laser experiments with highly charged ions in a Penning trap

We have conceived and built the HILITE (High-Intensity Laser-Ion Trap Experiment) Penning-trap setup for the production, confinement and preparation of pure ensembles of highly charged ions in a defined quantum state as a target for various high-intensity lasers. This enables a broad suite of laser-ion interaction studies at high photon energies and/or intensities, such as non-linear photo-ionisation studies. The setup has now been used to perform experiments at one such laser facility, namely the FLASH Free-Electron Laser at DESY in Hamburg, Germany. We describe the experimental possibilities of the apparatus, the results of the first measurements and future experiments at other laser facilities.

Automated summary

We have developed the HILITE setup for the production and preparation of highly charged ions in a defined quantum state as a target for high-intensity lasers. The setup has been used for experiments at the FLASH Free-Electron Laser facility in Germany, and we discuss the experimental possibilities and future experiments at other laser facilities.