Molecular Physics in Heavy Ion Storage Rings: From Magnetic to Electrostatic, from Room Temperature to Cryogenic

Molecular ions play crucial roles in many environments, from interstellar space to Earth’s atmosphere. Although originally intended for experiments with nuclei and highly charged ions, heavy ion storage rings have become invaluable tools in the field of molecular physics. With the recent transition toward electrostatic devices, detailed experiments with small molecular ions as well as clusters and complex molecules have become feasible.
The Cryogenic Storage Ring (CSR) at the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics in Heidelberg is currently the largest electrostatic storage ring project in the world. The CSR provides long storage times for atomic and molecular ions of almost arbitrary mass, at very high vacuum and low temperatures. The CSR is equipped with several experimental stations that allow for dedicated studies of the interactions of cold molecular ions with free electrons, neutral atoms and photons. I will give an overview of the current scientific program of the CSR, with special emphasis on experiments with relevance to astrophysics.