Photodetachment of negative ion beams for the ion-neutral merged-beam experiments at RICE

Generation of neutral atomic beam is under development for the ion-neutral merged-beam experiment at the RIKEN Cryogenic Electrostatic ion storage ring (RICE). The beam is produced by a photodetachment of a negative ion beam using a high power laser diode array with a wavelength of 808 nm. In order to increase the detachment efficiency, we have developed an optical cavity built with a planar mirror. In this presentation we will present the current status of the neutral atom beam source.