Interaction of heavy ions with plasma

The accelerator facilities at GSI, consisting of a high current radio frequency quadrupole (RFQ) accelerator, a rf-linac (UNILAC), a heavy ion synchrotron (SIS), and an experimental storage ring (ESR) provide the unique opportunity to study beam-target interaction phenomena over a wide range of beam energy. This range extends from 45 keV/u up to, and above 1 GeV/u. Thus rf accelerator and beam-target interaction physics issues for heavy-ion-beam driven inertial confinement fusion can be studied. Recent results of the experimental program such as the enhanced energy loss and the increased effective charge state of heavy ions in ionized matter, the generation of dense plasma by intense heavy ion beams, and new advanced focussing methods for intense beams are discussed.