We present an experimental study of the Rydberg 1 S 0 -and 1 P 1 -series of ytterbium for principal quantum numbers in the range of n = 70 to 90. The study is performed using trap loss spectroscopy in a magneto-optical trap operating on the 6 1 S 0 → 6 1 P 1 transition at 399 nm. Compared to the commonly used Rydberg spectroscopy method using field-ionization and ion detection, trap loss spectroscopy is significantly simpler and requires a less sophisticated experimental setup. Using this method we determine relative values of the scalar and tensor electric polarizabilities of both, 6sns 1 S 0 -and 6snp 1 P 1 Rydberg states.

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We report on a simple method for an active position stabilization of an atomic cloud trapped in a magneto-optical trap operating on the narrow 182 kHz intercombination line of atomic ytterbium. Our method makes use of the significant sensitivity of the position of a narrow-line magneto-optical trap (MOT) on the laser frequency. After in situ detection of the MOT position using a Pi Camera, an error signal is generated by a Raspberry Pi, which is directly fed back onto the laser frequency. Thus, perturbations of the MOT position, e.g., due to drifts of the Zerodur cavity to which the MOT laser is stabilized or the ambient magnetic field, can be compensated directly. Our method allows for long-term stabilization of the MOT position on a 10 µm scale and thus improves loading of a tightly focused optical trap.

We present an experimental study of the Rydberg 1S0 - and 1P1 - series of ytterbium for principal quantum numbers in the range of n = 70 to 90. The study is performed using trap loss spectroscopy in a magneto-optical trap operating on the 61S0 → 61P1 transition at 399 nm. Compared to the commonly used Rydberg spectroscopy method using field-ionization and ion detection, trap loss spectroscopy is significantly simpler and requires a less sophisticated experimental setup. Using this method we determine relative values of the scalar and tensor electric polarizabilities of both, 6sns 1S0 - and 6snp 1P1 - Rydberg states.