Charged particle microscopy at GSI and beyond

M. Schanz¹, D. Varentsov¹, J.L. Schmidt², J. Allison², G. Bruhaug², F.G. Mariam², L.P. Neukirch², B.T. Turner², K. Weyrich¹

¹ GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research, Darmstadt, Germany
² Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, United States
m.schanz@gsi.de

Magnetic lens-based proton microscopy is a unique and powerful diagnostic technique capable of resolving ultra-fast processes on the nanosecond scale in dense matter with unprecedented micrometer spatial resolution. Designed, constructed, and commissioned at the GSI Helmholtz Center for Heavy Ion Research, the PRIOR-II proton microscopy facility pushes the technical boundaries of this imaging technique to the absolute limits. This enables experiments on ultra-fast shock wave propagation for high-energy density (HED) fundamental physics applications and materials science.

Unlike other facilities, PRIOR-II has the unique capability of imaging using heavier ions (tested with up to 975MeV/u 12C6+ and up to 1.5GeV/u 14N7+). Detailed studies on the enhancement of density contrast through the use of heavy ions have also led to improvements in the underlying scattering theory used for radiographic density reconstruction. Besides heavy ion imaging efforts, the Los Alamos National Lab and GSI are also investigating other means of improving scientific data quality with this technique, such as developing semi-achromatic or fully achromatic imaging setups.

The PRIOR-II facility at GSI is currently undergoing a transition to enable high explosive driven high-energy density (HED) physics and materials science experiments on shock-compressed matter at extreme densities up to 100 gigapascals (GPa), and to serve as a new user facility for the HED community. First experiments will study shock compaction as an approach to large-scale, high-pressure material synthesis and planetary defense applications. Once the shock-wave capability is fully developed and available, a broader research program on matter under extreme conditions, driven by GSI plasma physics and external users, is planned.