Measurement of magnetic monopole transition in electron scattering fromO16as direct test of dispersive effects

For the first time an experiment has been performed to measure a magnetic monopole transition in inelastic electron scattering. In {sup 16}O the 0{sup +}{r arrow}0{sup {minus}} transition to the level at {ital E}{sub {ital x}}=10.957 MeV has been observed with a cross section of {ital d}{sigma}/{ital d}{Omega}=(5.4{plus minus}3.8){times}10{sup {minus}37} cm{sup {minus}2}/sr. Measurement of this transition is a direct signature of two-step contributions in electron scattering. Our measurement is in good agreement with the strength calculated for this transition.