ELISA, an electrostatic storage ring for atomic physics

The design of a new type of storage ring for heavy ions using electrostatic deflection and focusing devices is described. At low energy, where the velocity is low for heavy ions, electrostatic bends and quadrupoles are more efficient than magnetic ones. Furthermore, electrostatic devices are more compact and easier to construct than magnetic devices. These and other features, e.g. no magnetic fields, makes such storage rings attractive for many atomic-physics experiments, and also for basic research in neighboring fields such as chemistry and biology.