Intensity limitations of a gas cell for stopping, storing and guiding of radioactive ions

The possibility to use a gas cell filled by noble gas (He or Ar) for thermalizing, storing and transporting radioactive ions is explored by studying experimentally ion - electron recombination of stable Ni, resonantly ionized by laser light. Combined with a literature study on ionization chambers, especially developed for high-intensity applications, conclusions are drawn on the maximum intensity of the incoming ion beam. A practical limit is encountered when the space-charge induced voltage fully counteract the applied voltage on the electrodes collecting the electrons.