2D transverse laser cooling of a hexapole focused beam of cold BaF molecules

Laser cooling of molecules is a powerful technique for producing cold, slow beams for precision measurements and quantum control, yet its implementation remains challenging due to molecular complexity. Here, we combine a cryogenic buffer gas beam, an electrostatic hexapole lens, and 2D transverse Doppler laser cooling to produce a bright beam of barium monofluoride (138Ba19F) molecules. We study both numerically and experimentally the laser cooling effect as a function of laser detuning, laser power, laser alignment, and interaction time. We find a scattering rate of 6.1(1.4) × 105 s−1 on the laser cooling transition (14% of the expected maximum) and identify suboptimal dark Zeeman state remixing, suboptimal laser sideband powers and detunings, and a lack of vibrational repump laser intensity as possible causes of such a low rate. Using 3 tuneable lasers with appropriate sidebands and detuning, each molecule scatters approximately 400 photons during 2D laser cooling, limited by the interaction time and scattering rate. Leaks to dark states are less than 10%. Finally, we use the experimental results to benchmark the trajectory simulations to predict the achievable flux 3.5 m downstream for a planned eEDM experiment. Laser cooling is a powerful technique that enables precision measurements and quantum control, yet its implementation in molecules remains challenging due to their complex structures. Here, the authors apply 2D transverse laser cooling to a focused beam of cold barium monofluoride (138Ba19F) molecules to significantly increase beam brightness.