Intense ion beams: A major research area in plasma studies at Cornell

High-power beams of electrons or ions are powerful tools, potentially capable of producing high-power microwave radiation, initiating fusion reactions, modifying the surfaces of materials, or generating intense pulsed lasers. Producing these beams, understanding their properties, and developing the technology to put them to use has been a research specialty of Cornell's Laboratory of Plasma Studies since its founding in 1967. In this article, the author describes some major achievements of LPS in intense ion-beam research, and discuss the ongoing work and future possibilities