Laser-stimulated two-step recombination of highly charged ions and electrons in a storage ring

Two-step resonant laser-stimulated recombination of highly charged ions was performed for the first time. Nd:YAG laser pulses overlapped with an Ar[sup 18+] beam in the electron cooler of the ESR storage ring at GSI induced transitions from the continuum to the [ital n]=81 state of hydrogenlike Ar[sup 17+]. To avoid reionization in the bending magnet before reaching the detector, the [ital n]=81 population was transferred to a state well below the reionization threshold by a Ti:sapphire laser. Tuning of this laser yielded the [ital n]=81 to 36 and 37 transition-line profiles. The two-step method provides access to detailed Rydberg spectroscopy in an electron beam environment.