Heavy ion interaction experiments with plasmas

High current discharges generating a fully ionized hydrogen plasma and a hi gh energy Nd:glass laser system (100J, 15ns) to produce a high density carb on plasma were used to study the interaction processes of heavy ions with i onized matter. The energy loss and charge state distribution of the project ile ions have been measured. Fully ionized plasmas show an enhanced stoppin g power due to the effective stripping of the ion. We report experimental f indings that high density carbon plasmas, not fully ionized, also show an e nhanced stopping power due to charge state effects and due to the efficient energy transfer to free electrons.