Quantum Defect Theory Analysis and Non-Adiabatic Core Polarization Analysis of Ytterbium

In this dissertation, I present three studies on the properties of the ytterbium (Yb) atom. I analyzed the level perturbing Yb 6𝑠𝑛𝑑 1𝐷2 series using multichannel quantum defect theory (MQDT) to extract the level energies (and the quantum defects) to within 1MHz accuracy. Microwave and radio frequency wave transitions driven from the accurate 6𝑠𝑛𝑑 levels, 31 ≤ 𝑛 ≤ 36, to higher angular momentum 6𝑠𝑛′l states, 28 ≤ 𝑛′ ≤ 33, were used to determine the dipole (𝛼𝑑) and the quadrupole (𝛼𝑞) polarizabilities of the ground state of Yb+. I have also observed the conversion of the 6𝑠𝑛𝑑 1𝐷2 series into a forced autoionizing resonance in the presence of an electric field as a consistency check on the zero field MQDT analysis.