Experimental approaches to crystalline ion beams

Facing the difficulties associated with the preparation of crystalline ion beams in heavy ion storage rings we propose two complementary table top schemes to elucidate fundamental issues like stability criteria for moving ion crystals at low velocities. One is based on a small radio-frequency quadrupole (RFQ) storage ring, where by laser cooling Mg ion crystals at rest were observed, but conceptionally modified with additional acceleration electrodes and manufactured with highest mechanical precision. The other approach suggested here implies the use of an RFQ ion guide for the lateral confinement of the ions combined with buffer gas viscous damping, which could lead to an ideal starting condition for first time direct three-dimensional laser cooling in a single pass arrangement.