We present a low size, weight, and power (SWaP), low-complexity, ytterbium magneto-optical trap (MOT). We demonstrate trapping of $1.4\times {10}^6$ ${}^{171}\mathrm{Yb}$ atoms on the $|{{}^{1}S}_0,F=1/2⟩\leftrightarrow |{{}^{1}P}_1,F^{\prime }=3/2⟩$ transition directly from a hot thermal beam. We explore the effect of trap detuning and oven temperature on trap number, density, loading rate, and sample temperature. The low SWaP and low-complexity design presents a realistic pathway toward portable ytterbium MOTs, allowing cold atom ytterbium systems to escape the confines of the laboratory and perform precision measurements in field environments.

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• Atom & ion cooling
• Atom & ion trapping & guiding
• Magneto-optics
• Atomic gases
• Lanthanides
• Trapped atoms
• Cooling & trapping
• Precision measurements