A magneto-optical trap for chromium with population repumping via intercombination lines

We present the realisation of a magneto-optical trap for chromium. <sup>52</sup>Cr atoms are loaded directly from a thermal beam. The trap lifetime is enhanced by using two red lasers to repump population that has decayed, via intercombination lines, to metastable levels back into the cooling cycle. We have measured the wavelengths of these intercombination lines and observed coherent Raman spectra. The observed density of ~10<sup>8</sup> cm<sup>-3</sup> is currently limited by collisions with the hot beam