We describe in this paper a new beam profile monitor which is suitable for
a low-emittance circulating electron beam. The monitor, termed as a laser w
ire profile monitor, utilizes a CW laser and an optical cavity to minimize
interference with an electron beam. A laser beam with a very thin waist is
realized by employing the cavity of nearly concentric mirror configuration
while the intensity is amplified by adjusting the cavity length to a Fabry-
Perot resonance condition. We have built and tested a prototype cavity. It
is found that a beam waist of 12 mum and an effective power of 3300 mW were
achieved in the laser wire with good long-term stability. It will be insta
lled in the ATF damping ring at KEK in which a transverse electron beam siz
e of about 10 mum is expected. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights re
served.