Arc and spark spectra of ytterbium

Abstract

A new description of conventional arc and spark spectra of ytterbium (neoytterbium, aldeberanium) has been completed in the wave-length range 2000 to 11 000 A. Wave-length measurements and intensity estimates are presented for 1,668 lines, 400 of which characterize neutral Yb atoms (Yb I spectrum), about 1,250 are due to singly ionized atoms (Yb ' II spectrum), and possibly a dozen belong to doubly ionized atoms (Yb III spectrum) . Some spectral regularities are given for neutral and for singly ionized atoms. The ground states of Yb, Yb+, and Yb++ atoms appear to be associated with the electron configurations, 4j'H6s 2 , 4J1 4 6s, and 4J14, respectively.