Z-pinch used as a plasma lens for heavy ion beams

Focusing of a heavy ion beam the azimuthal magnetic field of a z-pinch discharge was observed. The experiment was carried out with a device, which has been designed to generate controlled plasma states for the investigation of the interaction of heavy ion beams with hot matter. A focusing factor of 5 in beam diameter was detected with high speed photographic methods. The experimental results are in agreement with numerical calculations.