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Corrections to {ital O}({alpha}{sup 7}{ital mc}{sup 2}) fine-structure splittings in helium

Journal Article · · Physical Review A
;  [1]
  1. Department of Physics, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, N9B 3P4 (CANADA)

The times-order external-potential Bethe-Salpeter formalism is reformulated in a Schr{umlt o}dinger-like equation and in a form suitable for calculation of contributions arising from the relativistic momentum region. {ital O}({alpha}{sup 7}{ital mc}{sup 2}) corrections to the fine structure of helium arising from the relativistic momentum region due to exchange diagrams are derived and presented. They are expressed in the form of expectation values of nonrelativistic operators. These off-leading-order contributions arising from the relativistic momentum region are not sensitive to any experiment in hydrogen, positronium, or muonium but they are larger than experimental errors in the measurements of fine structure in helium. Therefore, they provide a test of corrections of this kind, which has not been carried out in any other bound-state system. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}

OSTI ID:
397541
Journal Information:
Physical Review A, Journal Name: Physical Review A Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 54; ISSN 1050-2947; ISSN PLRAAN
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English