ARIBE: A LOW ENERGY ION BEAM FACILITY IN CAEN

Abstract : Beams of low-energy ions are specific tools for interdisciplinary research allowing for preparing and studying the properties of complex systems like (bio)molecules, clusters and surfaces. In particular highly charged ions can induce strong electronic excitations as they are carriers of a large amount of potential energy up to the high keV range. But also other types of ion beams, like size-selected cluster beams or beams of biomolecular species, are useful for preparing and structuring surfaces or performing collision experiments. The ARIBE facility, located in Caen, which is part of the distributed European Facility LEIF, delivers such types of beams. In the present contribution recent technical developments and typical results are discussed.