Interaction of light ion beams with matter at the 1010 W/cm2 power level

Results of focusing experiments performed with a pinch reflex diode (PRD) driven by the long pulse Sidonix II machine art reported. Mixed beams of protons and deuterons are accelerated with reproducible characteristics: 1.2 MeV, 100 kA, 100 ns. Ion energy is checked by a nuclear diagnostic (double activation of BN targets) and an optical diagnostic. Streak photographs of 5 µm and 10 µm Al foils bombarded by the beam indicate focused power densities over 10¹⁰ W/cm². An upgrade of the machine leading to shorter pulse length (40 ns) is presented.