Investigation on radiative corrections related to the fine structure and hyperfine structure
Abstract
Radiative corrections related to the fine structure, Lamb shift and hyperfine structure of atomic
energy levels are studied. Since the perturbation Hamiltonian is very small compared to zero
order Hamiltonian first order perturbation is used theory to find the respective corrections. The
expressions obtained for the fine structure of hydrogen atom using the relativistic approach
coincides with those obtained using the Dirac equation and the fine structure correction is
proportional to 𝛼 2 𝐸𝑛𝑜, which is a small fraction of the Bohr energy. The Lamb shift correction is
proportional to 𝛼 3 𝐸𝑛𝑜. While the hyperfine structure correction is proportional to 10-3 𝛼 2 𝐸𝑛𝑜. The
implications of fine structure and hyperfine structure are seen as an outcome of very small
corrections. Coincidence of this result with spectroscopic measurements will be a welcome
confirmation.
Publisher
University of Nairobi