Towards efficient deceleration and production of cold, neutral radioactive molecules

Polar molecules containing radioactive, octupole-deformed nuclei-such as ²²⁵RaF-have more than six orders of magnitude enhanced sensitivity to nuclear symmetry violation over atoms with spherical nuclei [1-3]. However, these molecules are typically produced in minuscule quantities and delivered as energetic ions at high temperatures, limiting their use for precision experiments. We aim to develop a versatile technique for creating cold ( K) and neutral beams of radioactive molecules, leveraging the state-of-the-art cryogenic buffer gas beam (CBGB) technique [4]. The resulting beams can directly enhance precision spectroscopy and serve as a starting point for laser cooling and trapping, enabling long interrogation times and, eventually, quantum metrology of radioactive molecules. We present recent progress on the development of a prototype setup with BaF molecules, which are isoelectronic to the species of interest, ²²⁵RaF. This work will help characterize the cooling, neutralization, and extraction efficiency from the buffer gas cell in our system. When combined with radioactive ion beam facilities, this technique is expected to efficiently produce cold, short-lived radioactive molecules, paving the way for future precision studies.