Loading of a large Yb MOT on the ¹S₀ ¹P₁ transition

We present an experimental setup to laser cool and trap a large number of ytterbium atoms. Our design uses an oven with an array of micro-tubes for efficient collimation of the atomic beam, and we implement a magneto-optical trap of Yb-174 on the S-1(0) -> P-1(1) transition at 399 nm. Despite the absence of a Zeeman slower, we obtain a loading of 4 x 10(9) at./s. We trap up to N = 10(9) at., where light-assisted collisions become the dominant loss mechanism. We precisely characterize our atomic beam, the loading rate of the magneto-optical trap, and several loss mechanisms relevant for trapping a large number of atoms