High energy laser system for HIF research at GSI

For the development of a heavy ion driven inertial confinement fusion scenario a detailed knowledge of the interaction processes of the ions with the converter material is crucial. As this converter will be predominantly in the plasma state one of the main topics of the plasma physics group at Gesellschaft fuer Schwerionenforschung (GSI) is the interaction of heavy ions with dense hot plasma. Based on the latest results on interaction experiments with laser generated plasma targets presented here and concerning the high current upgrade of GSI a new high energy laser system is proposed. It will serve as a driver for interaction experiments with heavy ions as well as a diagnostic tool for heavy ion generated plasmas. In addition, with the combination of high current heavy ion beams and intense lasers innovative, fundamental research in the field of high energy density physics will be accessible for the first time.