  Direct laser-coolability and a comparatively simple electronic structure
render alkaline-earth metal monofluoride molecules versatile laboratories for
precision tests of fundamental physics. In this theoretical work, a route for
efficient stopping and cooling of high-energy hot beams of mass-selected
alkaline-earth metal monofluorides via their anions is explored to facilitate
subsequent precision experiments with trapped molecules. It is shown that these
molecular anions possess an unusually strong chemical bond and that RaF$^-$
features properties favourable for efficient pre-cooling, indicating the
applicability of direct laser-cooling of the anion.
