Numerical description and development of plasma stripper targets for heavy-ion beams

A Monte-Carlo simulation was developed to describe the stopping power of ions in ionized matter or cold non-ionized gases. The simulation confirmed that the enhanced energy loss in a plasma is mainly due to the higher mean charge state of the projectile ions in a plasma. The energy loss of copper ions and the mean charge states of argon and xenon ions were calculated. The numerical results showed good agreement with experimental data. Founded on the predictions of the simulation a new plasma stripper target was developed with a possible application in future heavy-ion driven ICF facilities. The new stripper target is based on the design of a pseudo-spark device. The stripping properties have been tested on an oxygen ion beam with an initial charge state of 4+ at 0.9 MeV/u. With the new device the yield of completely stripped oxygen ions increased almost four times compared with a corresponding cold gas stripper target.