Laser-cooled and trapped atoms as a precision target for heavy ion beams

We report on the development of a novel precision target for atomic physics with heavy ion beams, which consists of extremely cold and well localized, laser-cooled lithium atoms in a magneto-optical trap. First experiments are in preparation to study the collisional losses from the trap caused by the ion beam. The experimental set-up and the laser system, using exclusively 670 nm diode lasers, are described.