Introduction to Heavy Ion Research

Abstract

Atoms consist of nuclei and electrons. Seen from the outside, atoms are electrically neutral. If some of the negatively charged electrons circling the tiny, positively charged nucleus are removed from the atom, what is left i called an ion. If heavy atom undergo this process they are called heavy ion. In the last two decades heavy ion have emerged as a major tool in atomic and nuclear physics. Moreover, they have been the target of research themselves. Light and heavy atom ionized to a high degree resemble those found in hot stars; hence through laboratory experiments on Earth the actual situation in stars could be simulated and clarified. The desire of the human intellect to extend knowledge about matter not only on Earth but also in distant galaxies led to attempts to synthesize nuclei of completely unknown composition and size. It was also speculated that energetic collisions between heavy nuclei could lead to states similar to those in neutron stars. Last but not least, heavy ions penetrating into matter cause interactions of many kinds, leading to applications in solid-state physic, biology and medicine.