Laser Cooling of a Bunched Beam in a Synchrotron Storage Ring

Abstract

We have demonstrated, for the first time, laser cooling of a bunched ion beam in a synchrotron storage ring. Using a single cooling laser and a radio-frequency cavity, we have obtained a steady state in which the minimum bunch lengths are limited by the longitudinal space-charge force. Space-charge suppression of the synchrotron oscillations is indicated by direct measurement of the bunch lengths and velocity spread.