The Atomic Physics Potential of New Accelerators

Abstract

The use of accelerators by atomic physicists is now in a rapid growth stage. We will attempt to assess types of future accelerators and modes of accelerator usage which seem most promising for atomic physics. The acceleration of heavy-ion beams followed by the stripping process is a powerful method for taking atoms apart. We will make estimates of beam energies required to take apart the heavier atoms and what this implies for future accelerators. Another area of interest is the small accelerator which is equipped with a powerful ion source to produce highly-charged heavy-ions. We will describe the existing Oak Ridge facility. The combined use of accelerators and lasers is an exciting possibility. We illustrate this use by describing the 3 MV Van de Graaff facility at Oak Ridge which has studied atomic excited states with a nanosecond pulsed proton beam and a pulsed laser beam.

Research sponsored by the U. S. Energy research and Development Administration under contract with the Union Carbide Corporation.