Doctoral Dissertations

Abstract

"The unprecedented precision achieved both in the experimental measurements as well as in the theoretical description of atomic bound states make them an ideal study object for fundamental physics and the determination of fundamental constants. This requires a careful study of the effects from quantum electrodynamics (QED) on the interaction between the electron and the nucleus.

The two theoretical approaches for the evaluation of QED corrections are presented and discussed. Due to the presence of two energy scales from the binding potential and the radiation field, an overlapping parameter has to be used in both the approaches in order to separate the energy scales. The different choices for the overlapping parameter in the two methods are further illustrated in a model example.

With the nonrelativistic theory, relativistic corrections in order (Zα)² to the two-photon decay rate of ionic states are calculated, as well as the leading radiative corrections of α(Zα)² ln[(Zα)⁻²]. It is shown that the corrections is gauge-invariant under a "hybrid" gauge transformation between Coulomb and Yennie gauge.

Furthermore, QED corrections for Rydberg states in one-electron ions are investigated. The smallness of the corrections and the absence of nuclear size corrections enable very accurate theoretical predictions. Measuring transition frequencies and comparing them to the theoretical predictions, QED theory can be tested more precisely. In turn, this could yield a more accurate value for the Rydberg constant. Using a transition in a nucleus with a well determined mass, acting as a reference, a comparison to transition in other nuclei can even allow to determined nuclear masses.

Finally, in order to avoid an additional uncertainty in nuclei with non zero nuclear spin, QED self-energy corrections to the hyperfine structure up to order α(Zα)²ΔEHFS are determined for highly excited Rydberg states"--Abstract, page iii.

Advisor(s)

Jentschura, Ulrich D.

Committee Member(s)

Woelk, Klaus
Schulz, Michael, 1959-
Madison, Don H.
Parris, Paul Ernest, 1954-

Department(s)

Physics

Degree Name

Ph. D. in Physics

Sponsor(s)

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
National Science Foundation (U.S.)

Publisher

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Publication Date

Spring 2011

Pagination

ix, 239 pages

Note about bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (pages 229-238).

Rights

© 2011 Benedikt Johannes Wilhelm Wundt, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Dissertation - Open Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Subject Headings

Nuclear physicsQuantum electrodynamicsRydberg states

Thesis Number

T 9789

Print OCLC #

775688646

Electronic OCLC #

909404855

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