AbstractAn intense heavy ion linac system was constructed for basic research on heavy ion fusion and ion-pumped laser at Tokyo Institute of Technology. By using this system, we are planning to study the plasmas induced by the heavy ion beams. At present a 4He+ beam with a current of 1.6 mA and an energy of 220 keV amu−1 is focused onto a spot area of 1.1 mm2 From this spot size, a beam power density of 140 kW cm−2 is expected to be transferred to the target.