Relativistic recoil corrections to the atomic energy levels

Abstract

The quantum electrodynamic theory of the nuclear recoil effect in atoms to all orders in αZ and to first order in m/M is considered. The complete αZ - dependence formulas for the relativistic recoil corrections to the atomic energy levels are derived in a simple way. The results of numerical calculations of the recoil effect to all orders in αZ are presented for hydrogenlike and lithiumlike atoms. These results are compared with analytical results obtained to lowest orders in αZ. It is shown that even for hydrogen the numerical calculations to all orders in αZ provide most precise theoretical predictions for the relativistic recoil correction of first order in m/M.

10 pages, 6 figures, 3 tables. Presented at "Hydrogen Atom II: Precise Physics of Simple Atomic Systems", Castiglione della Pescaia, Tuscany, June 1-3, 2000