Cryogenic Buffer Gas Beam of Tin Atoms Toward a Magneto-Optical Trap

With the abundance of nuclear spin-zero isotopes and accessible clock transitions, atomic tin (Sn) is an attractive candidate for King-plot analysis to detect new forces via isotope shifts and for isotope-dependent atomic parity violation measurements with enhanced sensitivity. Based on numerical simulation, we previously presented a novel scheme to laser cool and trap Sn and other Group IV atoms, such as silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), and lead (Pb), by using the Type-II transition (J -> J'=J-1) between the metastable p^{2 3}P₁ state and the excited ps ³P₀^o state. Here we describe ongoing work towards experimentally implementing this scheme with Sn, with a focus on progress toward magneto-optical trapping of Sn. Our work on building a cryogenic buffer gas beam source and implementing white light slowing of Sn atoms is presented. Experimental plans for further stages of cooling and trapping are also discussed.