Muonic X-rays and nuclear γ-rays from separated isotopes of Yb with mass numbers 170–174 and 176 were measured. The parameters of the nuclear charge distribution were determined for each isotope. From the 2p splitting, intrinsic quadrupole moments were found with the following values: Q 0 (170) = 7.80 (4) b, Q 0 (171) = 7.95 (4) b, Q 0 (172) = 7.91 (4) b, Q 0 (173) = 7.92 (5) b, Q 0 (174) = 7.82 (5) b and Q 0 (176) = 7.59 (5) b, the quoted errors being statistical. These errors can be used for differences or ratios of the quadrupole moments. The total errors are 0.3 b. For the ground state of 173 Yb a spectroscopic quadrupole moment of Q 0 = 2.80 (04) b was derived from the observed 3d splitting. The combined analysis of the 2p and 3d splittings provided a sensitive test of the nuclear charge model in 173 Yb. The isotope shifts were determined and interpreted in terms of a model independent parameter. The isomer shifts of the first excited 2 + states in 170 Yb and 172 Yb were found, as well as the isomer shift of the 1.039 MeV 0 + state in 172 Yb. In 172 Yb evidence was found for a pronounced resonance between the 3d 1 2 −1s 1 2 transition and a nuclear state at 6.9314 (12) MeV. Several n scheme for the 6.931 MeV state in 172 Yb was proposed.
