Author: Tikhoplav, R.
Paper Title Page
THPS062 Cavity-recirculated Laser Charge Stripping of Hydrogen Ions 3568
 
  • I. Jovanovic
    Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
  • R. Tikhoplav
    RadiaBeam, Santa Monica, USA
 
  Funding: This work is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy.
High-intensity proton accelerators such as those at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Spallation Neutron Source require an intense, robust, reliable, and low-cost source of hydrogen ions. Laser-based charge stripping is a promising, high-efficiency method that could meet the requirements of present and future facilities. We are seeking to improve the efficiency of hydrogen ion stripping by an order of magnitude using laser recirculation. In our approach we recirculate a high-power laser using the technique termed recirculation injection by nonlinear gating, with a frequency-doubling nonlinear crystal as an efficient switch that allow pulse injection into the cavity. We present our progress on cavity development and the preliminary experimental assessment of cavity performance in high-radiation environment. Our experimental studies were conducted by irradiating the nonlinear crystal used in the laser cavity by fast neutrons in a research nuclear reactor and measuring its change in transmissivity.