Precise Values for Critical Fields in Quantum Electrodynamics

Gerhard Soff, Berndt Müller, Johann Rafelski

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Scopus citations

Abstract

A careful investigation of different corrections to binding energies of electrons in almost critical fields is performed. We investigate quantitatively the influence of the nuclear charge parameters, nuclear mass, degree of ionization on the value of the critical charge of the nucleus. Rather qualitative arguments are given to establish the contribution of the quantumelectrodynamic corrections, which are found to be small. Some phenomenological modifications of QED are quantitatively investigated and found to be of negligible influence on the value of the critical field. For heavy ion collisions with Z1+Z2> Zer the critical separations between ions are given as results of precise solutions of the relativistic two coulomb center problem. Corrections due to electron-electron interaction are considered. We find (with present theoretical accuracy) ZCr = 173±2, in the heavy ion collisions Rer(U — U) = 34.7 ± 2 fm and RCT(U—C f) — 47.7 ± 2 fm. We shortly consider the possibility of spontaneous muon production in muonic supercritical fields.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1267-1275
Number of pages9
JournalZeitschrift fur Naturforsch.ung - Section A Journal of Physical Sciences
Volume29
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 1974
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Mathematical Physics
  • General Physics and Astronomy
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry

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