Finite perturbation theory for the relativistic Coulomb problem

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new relativistic quantum mechanics framework and a unitary perturbation theory that yields finite second-order results for Coulomb interactions, successfully matching known formulas in both nonrelativistic and relativistic regimes.

Contribution

It presents a novel relativistic quantum mechanics formulation and a finite-order perturbation method tested on Coulomb problems, avoiding divergences typical in other approaches.

Findings

Finite second-order results obtained with the new perturbation theory.

Excellent agreement with Rutherford formula in the nonrelativistic regime.

Differential cross sections in the relativistic regime resemble Møller formula, within an order of magnitude.

Abstract

We present a novel form of relativistic quantum mechanics and demonstrate how to solve it using a recently derived unitary perturbation theory, within partial wave analysis. The theory is tested on a relativistic problem, with two spinless, equal mass particles, in which the interaction is entirely given by a Coulomb potential. As such, it is not meant to reproduce experimental results for the scattering of two electrons, but is intended as a test of our calculation methods. We find that this perturbation theory gives finite results at second order. This is unlike other versions of perturbation theory, which find divergent results at second and all higher orders. We calculate differential cross sections in the nonrelativistic regime, where we find excellent agreement with the Rutherford formula. Then, well into the relativistic regime, we find differential cross sections with similar shapes to the M{\o}ller formula and differing from that formula by less than an order of magnitude.