Measurement of the forbidden 6s2 1S0→5d6s 3D1 magnetic-dipole transition amplitude in atomic ytterbium -: art. no. 031403

We report on a measurement of a highly forbidden magnetic-dipole transition amplitude in ytterbium using the Stark-interference technique. This amplitude is important in interpreting a future parity nonconservation experiment that exploits the same transition. We find parallel to<5d6s(3)D(1)parallel toM1parallel to6s(2 1)S(0)>parallel to=1.33(6)(Stat)(20)(beta)x10(-4)mu(0), where the larger uncertainty comes from the previously measured vector transition polarizability beta. The M1 amplitude is small and should not limit the precision of the parity nonconservation experiment.