Abstract: Heavy Ion Storage Rings for Nuclear Physics and Astrophysics
Heavy-ion storage rings are powerful and versatile tools for high-precision experiments with highly charged stable and radioactive ions, enabling unique studies at the interface of atomic, nuclear, and astrophysics. At the GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research in Darmstadt, Germany, the Experimental Storage Ring (ESR) provides exceptional opportunities for studies with rare and short-lived ion beams. Advanced beam manipulation techniques, including accumulation, bunching, deceleration, and electron cooling, allow ions to be stored at sufficient intensities and at energies relevant to astrophysical processes.
Precision studies of exotic decays in highly charged ions [1,2] and high-precision mass measurements are now well-established research programmes at the ESR. More recently, research on nuclear reactions has expanded significantly. In these experiments, beam cooling combined with windowless thin gas targets provides excellent energy and angular resolution, enabling measurements that are difficult or impossible to perform using conventional experimental approaches [3,4].
This talk will present recent highlights from the FAIR Phase-0 research programme at the ESR, focusing on their impact on nuclear physics and astrophysics. An outlook on planned future measurements and the next generation of heavy-ion storage-ring facilities will also be presented
Resources [1] R. S. Sidhu et al., PRL 133, 232701 (2024) [2] G. Leckenby et al., Nature 635, 321 (2024). [3] L. Varga et al., PRL 134, 082701 (2025). [4] S. F. Dellmann et al., PRL 134, 142701 (2025)