Proton Radius, Darwin-Foldy Term and Radiative Corrections

Author

Ulrich D. Jentschura, Missouri University of Science and TechnologyFollow

Abstract

We discuss the role of the so-called Darwin-Foldy term in the evaluation of the proton and deuteron charge radii from atomic hydrogen spectroscopy and nuclear scattering data. The question of whether this term should be included or excluded from the nuclear radius has been controversially discussed in the literature. We attempt to clarify which literature values correspond to which conventions. A detailed discussion of the conventions appears useful because a recent experiment [R. Pohl et al., Nature 466, 213 (2010)] has indicated that there is a discrepancy between the proton charge radii inferred from ordinary ("electronic") atomic hydrogen and muonic hydrogen. We also investigate the role of quantum electrodynamic radiative corrections in the determination of nuclear radii from scattering data, and propose a definition of the nuclear self energy which is compatible with the subtraction of the radiative corrections in scattering experiments.

Recommended Citation

U. D. Jentschura, "Proton Radius, Darwin-Foldy Term and Radiative Corrections," European Physical Journal D, vol. 61, no. 1, pp. 7 - 14, Springer New York, Jan 2011.

The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2010-10414-6

Department(s)

Physics

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

1434-6060

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2011 Springer New York, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jan 2011