CERN, together with ITEP and TRINITI (Russia), is developing a CO 2 laser ion source. The key design parameters are: 1.4×10 10 ions of Pb 25+ in a pulse of 5.5 µs, with a 4-rms emittance of 0.2×10 -6 rad m, working at a repetition rate of 1 Hz. This device is considered as one candidate source for LHC heavy ion operation. The status of the laser development, the experimental set-up of the source consisting of the target area and its illumination, the plasma expansion area and extraction, beam transport and ion pre-acceleration by an RFQ, will be given.