Spectroscopy of the quadrupole clock transition of ytterbium-171 ions for optical frequency standard development

We outline the results of the spectroscopic investigation of the quadrupole transition of a single ytterbium-171 ion as applied to the development of an optical frequency standard with a relative uncertainty and long-term frequency instability of less than 10^-17. The spectral width of the resonance recorded at the centre transition frequency amounts to about 30 Hz.