The physics of highly charged ions, or highly ionized atoms, is one of the most
important and active domains of modern atomic physics which provides our
basic information and understanding of atomic structure, short-wave radiation
and electromagnetic interactions of these multiply ionized systems. During the
last 10–20 years, the physics of highly charged ions began to be a very versatile
tool for investigations of pure and applied physics including x-ray astronomy and
astrophysics, x-ray lasers and lithography, heavy-ion induced fusion and nuclear
physics, beam–foil spectroscopy and ion–surface interaction.