Abstract. We report the successful buffer-gas cooling and magnetic trapping of chromium atoms with densities exceeding 10¹² atoms per cm³ at a temperature of 350 mK for the trapped sample. The possibilities of extending 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 (⁶Σ⁺ ground state) and MnH (⁷Σ⁺) radicals appear to be suitable systems for future experiments.

Print publication: Issue 19 (14 October 2006)
Received 3 April 2006, in final form 24 July 2006
Published 25 September 2006