Autoionizing states of the ytterbium atom by three-photon polarization spectroscopy

The autoionizing states of ytterbium (Yb) were investigated by three-photon polarization spectroscopy. Ytterbium atoms were excited to autoionizing states through the transition 6[ital s][sup 2] [sup 1][ital S][sub 0]--6[ital s]6[ital p] [sup 3][ital P][sub 1]--4[ital f][sup 13]([sup 2][ital F][sub 7/2])6[ital s][sup 2]6[ital p][sub 3/2] ([ital J]=2). The total angular momenta [ital J] of the autoionizing states were identified by comparing the line intensities from the spectra recorded with different combinations of the laser polarization. In this work, 17 autoionizing states including many new ones were investigated. For all these states Fano parameters and [ital J] values are measured.