Thermal radiative corrections to hyperfine structure of light hydrogen-like systems

TL;DR

This paper calculates thermal radiative corrections to hyperfine structures in light hydrogen-like systems using quantum electrodynamics at finite temperature, highlighting implications for precision measurements and fundamental constant tests.

Contribution

It introduces a method to evaluate thermal corrections to hyperfine splitting in hydrogen-like atoms within a finite-temperature QED framework, advancing theoretical understanding.

Findings

Thermal corrections significantly affect hyperfine splitting measurements.

Results are relevant for future high-precision experiments.

Discussion includes potential tests of fundamental constant variations.

Abstract

In this work, we consider the thermal correction to the hyperfine interaction in hydrogen, deuterium, and the $^3$He$^+$ ion. This correction is effectively described by one-loop Feynman graphs in the framework of the quantum electrodynamics theory for bound states at a finite temperature. A simple analysis shows the importance of the obtained results for future prospects for measuring hyperfine splitting. In addition, the application for testing the time variation of fundamental constants is briefly discussed.