High-precision mass measurement of ${}^{168}$Yb for verification of nonlinear isotope shift

Abstract

The absolute mass value of ${}^{168}$Yb has been directly determined with the JYFLTRAP Penning trap mass spectrometer at the Ion Guide Isotope Separator On-Line (IGISOL) facility. A more precise value of the mass of ${}^{168}$Yb is needed to extract possible signatures of beyond standard model physics from high-precision isotope shift measurements of Yb atomic transition frequencies. The measured mass-excess value, ME(${}^{168}$Yb) = $-$61579.846(94) keV, is 12 times more precise and deviates from the Atomic Mass Evaluation 2016 value by 1.7$\ddot{I}ƒ$. The impact on precision isotope shift studies of the stable Yb isotopes is discussed.

4 pages, 2 figures