Optical stochastic cooling for RHIC using optical parametric amplification

• Published in: Physical review special topics. PRST-AB. Accelerators and beams Vol. 7; no. 1; p. 012801
• Main Authors: Babzien, M., Ben-Zvi, I., Pavlishin, I., Pogorelsky, I. V., Yakimenko, V. E., Zholents, A. A., Zolotorev, M. S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: American Physical Society 01-01-2004
• ISSN: 1098-4402; 1098-4402
• DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevSTAB.7.012801

We propose using an optical parametric amplifier, with a ∼12   μm wavelength, for optical-stochastic cooling of ^{79}Au ions in the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. While the bandwidth of this amplifier is comparable to that of a Ti:sapphire laser, it has a higher average output power. Its wavelength is longer than that of the laser amplifiers previously considered for such an application. This longer wavelength permits a longer undulator period and higher magnetic field, thereby generating a larger signal from the pickup undulator and ensuring a more efficient interaction in the kicker undulator, both being essential elements in cooling moderately relativistic ions. The transition to a longer wavelength also relaxes the requirements for stability of the path length during ion-beam transport between pickup and kicker undulators.