Ion beam crystallization

After the successful exploitation of electron cooling in several heavy ion storage rings the possibility of generating crystalline ion beams gained the interest of particle accelerator physicists. New cooling methods, such as laser cooling, give further opportunity to reach ultra cold system of particles necessary for the state transition to the crystalline configuration. Crystalline beams will give insight into a completely new research field, reaching higher standards in precision measurements and techniques. The applicative potentialities of crystalline beams justify a careful investigation on this subject. The conceptual design of a low-energy heavy-ion storage ring, called CRYSTAL, proposed for the experimental demonstration of crystalline beams at Legnaro LNL is presented.