Abstract
In bound systems whose constituent particles are heavier than the electron, the dominant radiative correction to energy levels is given by light-fermion (electronic) vacuum polarization. In consequence, relativistic and recoil corrections to the one-loop vacuum-polarization correction are phenomenologically relevant. Here, we generalize the treatment, previously accomplished for systems with orbiting muons, to bound systems of constituents with more general spins: spin-0, spin-1=2, and spin-1. We discuss the application of our more general expressions to various systems of interest, including spinless systems (pionium), muonic hydrogen and deuterium, and devote special attention to the excited non-S states of deuteronium, the bound system of a deuteron and its antiparticle. The obtained energy corrections are of order α5mr, where α is the fine-structure constant and mr is the reduced mass.
Recommended Citation
G. S. Adkins and U. D. Jentschura, "Relativistic and Recoil Corrections to Light-fermion Vacuum Polarization for Bound Systems of Spin-0, Spin-1=2, and Spin-1 Particles," Physical Review D, vol. 113, no. 5, article no. 056029, American Physical Society, Jan 2026.
The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1103/lll9-9wxz
Department(s)
Physics
Publication Status
Open Access
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
2470-0029; 2470-0010
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Citation
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2026 American Physical Society, All rights reserved.
Creative Commons Licensing
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Publication Date
01 Jan 2026
