Vacuum Polarization in a Strong Coulomb Field
Jan 15, 195616 pages
Published in:
- Phys.Rev. 101 (1956) 843-859
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Abstract: (APS)
A study is carried out of the vacuum polarization in a strong Coulomb field. Radiative corrections are neglected. A perturbation calculation is avoided by making use of the explicit solutions of the Dirac equation in a Coulomb field. The Laplace transform of the polarization charge density times r2 is found and used as a basis for further study. It is proved to be an analytic function of the strength of the inducing charge. It is verified that the first-order term in a power series expansion in the strength of the inducing charge just corresponds to the Uehling potential. The third-order term is studied in some detail. The leading term in the polarization potential close to the inducing charge and the space integral of the induced potential divided by r are found to all orders in the strength of the inducing charge. Ambiguities are handled by a method corresponding to regularization. Some experimental applications are considered. The corrections to the Uehling term in these cases are found to be small.References(15)
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