Barium Tagging for NEXT Search for Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay

The reduction of background events is a necessity in the search for neutrinoless double beta decay \textit{(0}$\nu \beta \beta )$. One technique that could reduce backgrounds at the energy of the neutrino-less decay is the identification of the barium daughter of the double beta decay of 136Xe, known as "barium tagging". Recent results have demonstrated single Ba2$+$ ion resolution in dry state single molecule fluorescence imaging (SMFI) using custom designed fluorescent molecules. I will discuss the most recent developments in dry stage SMFI as well as presenting the R{\&}D program to be undertaken in the next few years. Particular focus will be given to the GodXilla program at UTA that uses controllable beams of Ba2$+$ ions to test SMFI sensors in the gas phase. Future R{\&}D within the NEXT collaboration will concern the transportation of Ba2$+$ ions to fluorescent sensors within large volumes of high-pressure xenon gas. Ultimately this research will result in a design for a background free 136Xe double beta decay experiment combining a high-pressure gas TPC with SMFI microscopy.