Strong<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mml:mi>M</mml:mi><mml:mn>1</mml:mn><mml:mn/></mml:math>Transitions in Light Nuclei

The nature of strong $M1$ transitions, particularly those observed by inelastic electron scattering at backward angles, is investigated. Calculations of particular cases reveal a tendency to concentrate the transition strength in a few levels, in some respects similar to the familiar giant $E1$ resonance. The energy-weighted sum rule for such transitions is examined, and an approximation is developed which exhibits the qualitative behavior to be expected in $4N$ nuclei whose ground states have $I=0=T$. The results are compared with experiment.