Observation of a reduction of recombination between ions and electrons

Recombination between ions and electrons limits the lifetime of ion beams which are prepared with high beam quality by electron cooling for experiments in storage rings. Experiments at the storage ring ESR have shown that the recombination rate can be reduced by more than an order of magnitude. This reduction is achieved for certain values of the magnetic guiding field of the electron cooler or by passing the electrons through a transverse electric field before they interact with the ions. The likely explanation is an increase of the transverse electron motion.