Isolated core excitation of high orbital quantum number Rydberg states of ytterbium

We study isolated core excitation of ultra cold ytterbium Rydberg atoms of high orbital quantum number. Measurements were performed on the $6s_{1/2} 40l \rightarrow 6p_{1/2} 40l $ transition with $l=5-9$. The extracted energy shifts and autoionization rates are in good agreement with a model based on independant electrons, taking into account interactions in a perturbative approach. We reveal a particularly long persistence of the autoionization rates with the orbital quantum number, explained by the strong coupling of the $6p_{1/2}nl$ autoionizing state with the $5d_{3/2}\epsilon l'$ continua compared to previously studied divalent atoms.