5p 2Pj→5d 2D3/2 transition matrix elements in atomic 87Rb -: art. no. 050502

A combined precision experimental and theoretical study of 5p P-2(j)-->5d(2)D(3/2) electric-dipole transition matrix elements in atomic Rb-87 has shown that they are dominated by electron correlation. The relative size and sign of the measured matrix element ratio is found to be 1.068(8), in very good agreement with the value of 1.135 obtained from relativistic third-order many-body perturbation theory.