Experiments with Pulsed Ions

Laser driven ion bunches come with many unique characteristics, such as short bunch duration (∼ps), low emittance, high flux and high energy, making them suitable for a number of groundbreaking applications.

Proof-of-principle studies in biology and medicine

Loosely based on the motto "we need to crawl before we can walk", we have started use are concepts to provide ion bunches for biological studies. Based on our advanced technologies of nano-target production and miniature ion optics we were able to set up a prototype system which we dubbed biomedical beamline. For the first time, cell experiments with single 1 nanosecond proton bunches at dose levels of a few Gy became possible. Possibly more important, it will enable studies on the picosecond time scales in the near future. The key to those advances are the development of our laser system and target production, enabling a successive increase in ion energy to 10 MeV/u (LEX) and 100 MeV/u (CALA).

Shortest ion bunches and time-resolved studies

The short bunch duration of the ions is only one aspect. More importantly, there initiation by the laser is temporally and spatially extremely well defined. In addition, other sources like X-rays, electrons, optical, or infrared light can be generated in almost perfect synchronicity. Exploring the opportunities resulting from those unique properties and "shed light" onto fast processes initiated by charged particles, maybe even relevant in medicine, belongs to the major goals of CALA.

"By-products"

Nanometer foils have great potential well beyond the acceleration of dense ion bunches. They are extensively discussed to serve as source for brilliant radiation and attosecond pulses. Our group has been involved in numerous experimental investigations and we constantly work on further harvesting those opportunities.