Highly-Excited Double Rydberg States of Ytterbium

By using five-laser resonance excitation in combination with a new detection method, the highly-excited double Rydberg states NLn’l (N ≥ 40, N/n’≥ 0.5 and L, 1 < 4) of Yb have been observed. The relative excitation strengths between the Δl allowed and forbidden core transitions can be quantitatively measured. Analysis of the spectra has revealed the strong electronic correlation in such highly excited states.