Abstract

The Yb⁺ ion is a remarkable atomic species from the view point of frequency standards and time keeping^[1]: Its D_1,2 resonance lines ²S_1/2–²P_1/23/2 at 328.94 and 369.42 nm allow excitation ²S_1/2–²D_{3/2 5/2} at 410.85 and 435.40 accessible by diode-laser-induced two-photon excitation, and also the 6 ²S_1/2–7 S_1/2 line at 184 nm to be two-photon excited by frequency-doubled diode laser light. Moreover, there is the E3 line 6 S_1/2–6 F_7/2 at 467.02 nm whose natural width is less than a µHz.

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