Heavy-particle quantum electrodynamics

TL;DR

This paper develops a precise quantum electrodynamics framework for accurately calculating nuclear recoil effects in hydrogen-like atoms, accounting for all orders in the fine-structure constant times nuclear charge.

Contribution

It introduces a systematic and exact formalism in quantum electrodynamics for deriving nuclear recoil corrections in hydrogenic systems, extending previous approximations.

Findings

Provides a formalism for exact recoil correction calculations.

Enables higher precision in hydrogenic energy level predictions.

Lays groundwork for improved atomic physics measurements.

Abstract

The quantum electrodynamic formalism is presented for the systematic and exact in $Z\,\alpha$ derivation of nuclear recoil corrections in hydrogenic systems.