https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2006-00133-0
Vacuum polarization in muonic atoms: the Lamb shift at low and medium Z
1
D.I. Mendeleev Institute for Metrology (VNIIM), 190005 St. Petersburg, Russia
2
Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik, 85748, Garching, Germany
3
Pulkovo Observatory, 196140 St. Petersburg, Russia
Corresponding author: a sek@mpq.mpg.de
Received:
18
January
2006
Revised:
3
April
2006
Published online:
15
June
2006
In muonic atoms the Uehling potential (an effect of a free electronic vacuum polarization loop) is responsible for the leading contribution to the Lamb shift causing the splitting of states with Δn=0 and Δl≠0. Here we consider the Lamb shift in the leading nonrelativistic approximation, i.e., within an approach based on a certain Schrödinger equation. That is valid for low and medium Z as long as (Zα)2≪1. The result is a function of a few parameters, including κ=Zαmμ/me, n and l. We present various asymptotics and in particular we study a region of validity of asymptotics with large and small κ. Special attention is paid to circular states, which are considered in a limit of n≫1.
PACS: 36.10.Gv – Mesonic atoms and molecules, hyperonic atoms and molecules / 31.30.Jv – Relativistic and quantum electrodynamic effects in atoms and molecules
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag, 2006
