CERN PS laser ion source development

CERN, together with ITEP and TRINITI (Russia), is developing a CO/sub 2/ laser ion source. The key design parameters are: 1.4/spl times/10/sup 10/ ions of Pb/sup 25+/ in a pulse of 5.5 /spl mu/s, with a 4-RMS emittance of 0.2/spl times/10/sup -6/ rad m, working at a repetition rate of 1 Hz. This device is considered as one candidate source for LHC heavy ion operation. The status of the laser development, the experimental set-up of the source consisting of the target area and its illumination, the plasma expansion area and extraction, beam transport and ion pre-acceleration by an RFQ, will be given,.