  Cold supersonic beams of molecules can be slowed down using a switched
sequence of electrostatic field gradients. The energy to be removed is
proportional to the mass of the molecules. Here we report deceleration of YbF,
which is 7 times heavier than any molecule previously decelerated. We use an
alternating gradient structure to decelerate and focus the molecules in their
ground state. We show that the decelerator exhibits the axial and transverse
stability required to bring these molecules to rest. Our work significantly
extends the range of molecules amenable to this powerful method of cooling and
trapping.

Atomic Physics