Charge state tailoring of relativistic heavy ion beams for the Gamma Factory project at CERN

We present charge‐state evolution studies for Pb$^{54+}$ ion beams passing through stripper foils at relativistic energies of 5.9 GeV/u. The purpose of this investigation is to determine the optimum target material and non‐equilibrium thickness for the efficient production of few‐electron lead ions, that is, Pb$^{80+}$ and Pb$^{81+}$, at the present European Organization for Nuclear Research, CERN, accelerator facility at energies as high as 5.9 GeV/u. Based on these predictions, an Al stripper foil has been selected for a proof‐of‐principle measurement in the frame of the Gamma Factory study group. The experimental data confirms a substantial yield of non‐bare Pb ions. In addition, a charge‐state evolution study for the production of Li‐like lead ions Pb$^{79+}$ is presented, which will be subject of a follow‐up experiment in the near future.