Hydrogen-like atom in a superstrong magnetic field: Photon emission and relativistic energy level shift
- Moscow Polytechnic University (Russian Federation)
Following our previous work, additional arguments are presented that in superstrong magnetic fields B ≫ (Zα){sup 2}B{sub 0}, B{sub 0} = m{sup 2}c{sup 3}/eħ ≈ 4.41 × 10{sup 13} G, the Dirac equation and the Schrödinger equation for an electron in the nucleus field following from it become spatially one-dimensional with the only z coordinate along the magnetic field, “Dirac” spinors become two-component, while the 2 × 2 matrices operate in the {0; 3} subspace. Based on the obtained solution of the Dirac equation and the known solution of the “onedimensional” Schrödinger equation by ordinary QED methods extrapolated to the {0; 3} subspace, the probability of photon emission by a “one-dimensional” hydrogen-like atom is calculated, which, for example, for the Lyman-alpha line differs almost twice from the probability in the “three-dimensional” case. Similarly, despite the coincidence of nonrelativistic energy levels, the calculated relativistic corrections of the order of (Zα){sup 4} substantially differ from corrections in the absence of a magnetic field. A conclusion is made that, by analyzing the hydrogen emission spectrum and emission spectra at all, we can judge in principle about the presence or absence of superstrong magnetic fields in the vicinity of magnetars (neutron stars and probably brown dwarfs). Possible prospects of applying the proposed method for calculations of multielectron atoms are pointed out and the possibility of a more reliable determination of the presence of superstrong magnetic fields in magnetars by this method is considered.
- OSTI ID:
- 22756447
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics, Vol. 124, Issue 6; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2017 Pleiades Publishing, Inc.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1063-7761
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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