This paper presents a scheme for three-step laser-based stripping of an H ÿ beam for charge exchange injection into a high-intensity proton ring. First, H ÿ atoms are converted to H 0 by Lorentz stripping in a strong magnetic field, then neutral hydrogen atoms are excited from the ground state to upper levels by a laser, and the remaining electron, now more weakly bound, is stripped in a strong magnetic field. The energy spread of the beam particles gives rise to a Doppler broadened absorption linewidth, which makes for an inefficient population of the upper state by a narrow-band laser. We propose to overcome this limitation with a ''frequency sweeping'' arrangement, which populates the upper state with almost 100% efficiency. We present estimates of peak laser power and describe a method to reduce the power by tailoring the dispersion function at the laser-particle beam interaction point. We present a scheme for reducing the average power requirements by using an optical ring resonator. Finally, we discuss an experimental setup to demonstrate this approach in a proof-of-principle experiment.

Thin carbon foils are used as strippers for charge exchange injection into high intensity proton rings. However, the stripping foils become radioactive and produce uncontrolled beam loss, which is one of the main factors limiting beam power in high intensity proton rings. Recently, we presented a scheme for laser stripping an H ÿ beam for the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) ring. First, H ÿ atoms are converted to H 0 by a magnetic field, then H 0 atoms are excited from the ground state to the upper levels by a laser, and the excited states are converted to protons by a magnetic field. In this paper we report on the proof-ofprinciple demonstration of this scheme to give high efficiency (around 90%) conversion of H ÿ beam into protons at SNS in Oak Ridge. The experimental setup is described, and comparison of the experimental data with simulations is presented.

We present numerical analysis of interferometric patterns formed by multiple sources. Multiple beams can be achieved either from a synchronized laser array or by splitting a coherent light source. We assume Gaussian form for each beam, and all the beams are combined at the near field. The condition for achieving periodic structures with the feature size significantly smaller than λ/4 is obtained. Multiple beam interference has the potential of achieving smaller feature size, less power requirement, and more flexibility than the conventional two-beam interferometric lithography method.