High density plasma physics with heavy-ion beams

The accelerator facilities at GSI Darmstadt offer a unique possibility for experiments with heavy-ion-induced dense plasmas. Although the intensity of these heavy-ion beams is far below the regime of ICF, such beams are used to study basic physics, to develop diagnostic tools and special heavy-ion target designs. During the last years hydrodynamic motion has been induced for the first time in cryogenic crystals and metal targets by stopping intense heavy-ion beams. In recent experiments at the High Density Target Area a maximum specific energy deposition of 1 kJ/g in an initially solid lead target was reached. The time and spatial development of the hydrodynamic expansion after the heating phase and the propagation of pressure waves in the target were measured. The experimental results are compared with the results of a 2-D hydrodynamic code.