Laser cooling and trapping of francium

An apparatus to produce francium atoms and to trap them in a magneto-optical trap (MOT) has been set up at the Legnaro INFN National Laboratories (Italy). A detailed description of the main parts of the apparatus is given together with step-by-step measurements characterizing the production, transport, neutralization, and trapping of the radioactive atoms. The Fr MOT is operative, and the first trapping signal of the 210 Fr isotope is reported.