On the magnetic counterpart of the Uehling correction

TL;DR

This paper explores the quantum vacuum's magnetic properties in QED, calculating relativistic corrections to virtual particle pairs and their effects on magnetic and electric fields, with implications for atomic hyperfine structure.

Contribution

It introduces the calculation of quantum relativistic corrections to vacuum polarization effects on magnetic fields and their impact on atomic hyperfine structure.

Findings

Vacuum behaves as a paramagnetic medium due to polarization effects.

Quantum corrections break the classical symmetry between electric and magnetic dipoles.

Corrections influence the hyperfine structure in hydrogen-like atoms.

Abstract

In this work, we investigate the magnetic properties of the quantum vacuum in the context of QED. We calculate the quantum relativistic correction of virtual particle--anti-particle pair creation to the field of a classical point-like idealized magnet. Using such correction, we find the induced currents stemming from the effect of the polarization of the vacuum, which behaves like a paramagnetic medium. We also calculate the correction to the electric dipole potential and show that the well-known symmetry between the classical fields of point electric and magnetic dipoles is broken at the quantum level. Lastly, we apply the corrections to calculate the contributions of the hyperfine structure in a simple hydrogen-like atom.