Status of the laser stripping of H beam at J-PARC RCS

Saha, P. K.   ; Harada, Hiroyuki  ; Yoneda, Hitoki*; Michine, Yurina*; Sato, Atsushi*; Shibata, Takanori*; Kinsho, Michikazu  

To overcome the issues and practical limitations associated with the stripper foil used for the charge-exchange injection (CEI) of H beam for high-intensity proton accelerators, we are studying a foil-less H CEI by using only lasers at J-PARC RCS. To establish our principle, we are preparing for a POP (proof-of-principle) demonstration of 400 MeV H stripping to proton by using lasers. We will use both IR and UV lasers in the process of H stripping to protons. A prototype YAG laser system has been developed through experimental studies of 3 MeV H neutralization. We have also developed a multi-reflection laser cavity system to sufficiently reduce the seed laser energy. We have succeeded for 32 reflections to gain on the laser energy up to 16 to obtain a neutralization fraction of 25%. To realize a perfect benefit of the cavity, we also recently developed higher efficient vacuum windows by which we can achieve the laser energy gain to almost 32, proportional to the number of reflections. As a result, the average power of the seed laser can be reduced to 1/32, which is more useful for the UV laser. The laser setup at the 400 MeV beam line is in progress to start POP experimental studies in 2024.