Towards assembly of YbcaF

We investigate the use of  YbCaF molecules for measuring the magnetic quadrupole moment (MQM) of the Yb-173 nucleus, a CP-violating electromagnetic moment of the nucleus relevant to understanding the matter-antimatter asymmetry. The YbCaF molecule is ideal for this: the quadrupole-deformed Yb-173 nucleus enhances the MQM sensitivity to new physics, and the bent structure of the molecule facilitates parity doublets, a powerful tool for uncovering and rejecting systematic errors. Our approach is to laser cool both Yb and CaF, trap them in optical tweezers, and combine them into triatomic molecules for our MQM experiments. Current efforts focus mainly on preparation of ultracold Yb, with the apparatus under construction.