Magnetic trapping of buffer-gas cooled chromium atoms and prospects for the extension to paramagnetic molecules

Abstract

We report the successful buffer-gas cooling and magnetic trapping of chromium atoms with densities exceeding $10^{12}$ atoms per cm$^{3}$ at a temperature of 350 mK for the trapped sample. The possibilities to extend the method to buffer-gas cool and magnetically trap molecules are discussed. To minimize the most important loss mechanism in magnetic trapping, molecules with a small spin-spin interaction and a large rotational constant are preferred. Both the CrH ($^6\Sigma^+$ ground state) and MnH ($^7\Sigma^+$) radicals appear to be suitable systems for future experiments.