GABOR LENS PERFORMANCE STUDIES AT THE GSI HIGH CURRENT TEST INJECTOR

At the Institute for Applied Physics (IAP) the application of Gabor space charge lenses as a focusing device for low energy ion beams has already been studied for several years. Inside Gabor lenses electrons are confined by external fields. In case of a homogeneously distributed electron cloud the resulting linear electric space charge field enables the focusing of high intensity heavy ion beams without emittance growth. Therefore, the Gabor lens is a promising approach for mass-independent focusing with possible space charge compensation of ion beams. In mid-2012 the performance of a prototype lens has successfully been tested at the GSI High Current Test Injector (HOSTI). GSI and IAP are currently investigating the possible application of such a device for the operation at the new frontend of the High Current Injector (HSI) for FAIR. This contribution will present the results of beam transport experiments at HOSTI as well as the determination of related plasma properties.