Finite Nuclear Size Corrections on Hyperfine Structure in Muonic Atoms

TL;DR

This study quantifies finite nuclear size effects on hyperfine splitting in muonic atoms using relativistic models, revealing state and nuclear model dependencies crucial for precision measurements.

Contribution

It provides a systematic dataset of correction factors for various states and nuclear models, emphasizing the importance of realistic nuclear modeling in hyperfine structure calculations.

Findings

Correction factor δ increases with nuclear charge Z.

State dependence shows reduced δ for 2p_{1/2} compared to s states.

Nuclear model choice significantly affects the correction values.

Abstract

Finite nuclear size (FNS) effects on the magnetic-dipole hyperfine splitting in muonic hydrogenlike ions are investigated within a fully relativistic Dirac framework. The FNS contribution is quantified through the correction factor $\delta$, defined by $\Delta E_{\mathrm{ext}} = \Delta E_{\mathrm{point}}(1 - \delta)$, where $\Delta E_{\mathrm{ext}}$ is evaluated using Dirac wavefunctions computed for an extended nuclear charge distribution. Two nuclear models are considered: a homogeneously charged sphere and a two-parameter Fermi distribution. Bound-state energies and radial wavefunctions are obtained using a numerical iterative solver, while a semi-analytic matching scheme provides reference values and initial seeds. We present a systematic dataset of $\delta$ values for the $1s$, $2s$, and $2p_{1/2}$ states over a wide range of nuclear charge numbers $Z$. Nuclear-model dependence is quantified, including uncertainties induced by the nuclear radius in the uniform-sphere model. The results show that $\delta$ increases monotonically with $Z$ and exhibits clear state dependence, with reduced magnitude for the $2p_{1/2}$ state relative to $s$ states. A pronounced sensitivity to the nuclear charge distribution is observed, highlighting the importance of realistic nuclear modeling in precision hyperfine studies of muonic atoms.