{alpha}{sup 2} Corrections to Parapositronium Decay

Journal Article · Sun Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1999 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.83.1135· OSTI ID:359440

Czarnecki, A ^[1]; Melnikov, K ^[2]; Yelkhovsky, A ^[3]

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1. Physics Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973 (United States)
2. Institut fuer Theoretische Teilchenphysik, Universitaet Karlsruhe, D-76128 Karlsruhe (Germany)
3. Budker Institute for Nuclear Physics, Novosibirsk, 630090 (Russia)

Two-loop QED corrections to the decay rate of parapositronium (p-Ps) into two photons are presented. We find {Gamma}(p-Ps{r_arrow} {gamma}{gamma})=7989.50(2) {mu}s{sup {minus}1} . The nonlogarithmic O({alpha}{sup 2}) corrections turn out to be small, contrary to some earlier estimates. We speculate that the so-called {open_quotes}orthopositronium lifetime puzzle{close_quotes} will not likely be solved by large QED corrections. {copyright} {ital 1999} {ital The American Physical Society }

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Laboratory
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-98CH10886
• OSTI ID: 359440
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 83; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

66 PHYSICS
BOUND STATE
LIFETIME
PERTURBATION THEORY
POSITRONIUM
QUANTUM ELECTRODYNAMICS