Search for the atomic EDM of $^{\mathrm{171}}$Yb in an optical dipole trap

We present a search for the atomic electric dipole moment (EDM) of $^{\mathrm{171}}$Yb, a stable isotope with the ground state property of L $=$ 0, S $=$ 0, and I $=$ 1/2. $^{\mathrm{171}}$Yb atoms are captured by a two-stage MOT, transported using a movable optical dipole trap over 65 cm into a science chamber, and transferred to a 1D optical lattice. There, the atoms are allowed to precess under a uniform B field of 10 mG and a strong, reversible E field of 100 kV/cm. The precession frequencies measured under opposite E fields are used to search for the EDM. We describe the progress, challenges, and prospects of the experiment. Through this experiment, we develop atom manipulation techniques and study systematics for a parallel search for the EDM of $^{\mathrm{225}}$Ra, a radioactive isotope expected to possess a much larger Schiff moment due to its nuclear octupole deformation.