The 22nd International Conference on the Physics of Highly Charged Ions (HCI2026)

7 Sept 2026, 11:00 → 11 Sept 2026, 13:00 Asia/Shanghai

Xinwen Ma (nstitute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

The 22nd International Conference on the Physics of Highly Charged Ions will be held from September 7-11, 2026, in Huizhou, China. This significant event in the international HCI conference series, this gathering serves as a global platform for researchers to present and discuss the latest advancements in the field of highly charged ions (HCIs). Since its inception in 1982, the biennial HCI conference series has continually evolved, attracting scientists from diverse disciplines around the world.

In recent years, the field of highly charged ions has experienced remarkable progress, driven by substantial experimental advancements and significant theoretical improvements. HCI 2026 aims to bring together experimentalists and theorists to explore a broad spectrum of topics, including:

l  Fundamental Aspects, Structure, and Spectroscopy

l  Collisions with Electrons, Ions, Atoms, and Molecules

l  Interaction with Clusters, Surfaces, and Solids

l  Interactions with Photons and Plasmas

l  Strong Field and Ultrafast Processes

l  Production, Experimental Developments, and Applications

The conference will feature a single-session format, ensuring that every participant has the opportunity to engage in all discussions. Additionally, ample space will be provided for poster presentations, allowing researchers to present their findings.

Highly charged ions are a cornerstone of modern atomic and plasma physics research, with implications that extend across multiple scientific disciplines. Their unique properties serve as a testbed for advanced quantum electrodynamics (QED) calculations and may be utilized in the development of future atomic clocks as frequency standards as well as in investigations of variations in fundamental constants and physics beyond the Standard Model. Moreover, HCIs are ubiquitous in high-temperature plasma environments, ranging from stellar objects and black hole accretion disks to terrestrial plasmas utilized in fusion and semiconductor manufacturing processes. The diagnosis of these extreme environments necessitates a deep understanding of the structural, collisional, and radiative properties of HCIs—knowledge that is often still insufficient.

The production of fundamental atomic data, encompassing both structural and collisional aspects, is a core tenet of HCI physics, emphasizing the interplay between theory and experiment. The theoretical domain includes the examination of many-body effects in QED calculations and the accurate modeling of energy transfer in strongly radiating, HCI-dominated plasmas. Furthermore, advancements in experimental facilities and innovative instrumentation for HCI production—including accelerators, electron-cyclotron resonance sources, electron-beam-ion-sources/traps, and free-electron lasers—alongside the development of methods to probe the structures and dynamics of HCIs across complex environments (such as clusters and surfaces), are essential for the continued progression of HCI physics.

We eagerly anticipate welcoming colleagues to HCI 2026 to engage in fruitful discussions, exchange knowledge, and further the understanding of highly charged ions in this dynamic field.