Quantum electrodynamics of heavy ions and atoms

We present calculations of the self-energy correction to the $E1$ transition amplitudes in hydrogen-like ions, performed to all orders in the nuclear binding strength parameter. Our results for the $1s$-$2p_{1/2}$ transition for the hydrogen isoelectronic sequence show that the perturbed-orbital part of the self-energy correction provides the dominant contribution, accounting for approximately 99\% of the total correction for this transition. Detailed calculations were perfor...

The self-energy and the vertex radiative corrections to the effect of parity nonconservation in heavy atoms are calculated analytically in orders Z alpha^2 and Z^2 alpha^3 ln(lambda_C/r_0), where lambda_C and r_0 being the Compton wavelength and the nuclear radius, respectively. The value of the radiative correction is -0.85% for Cs and -1.41% for Tl. Using these results we have performed analysis of the experimental data on atomic parity nonconservation. The obtained values ...

Results of a calculation valid to all orders in the nuclear-strength parameter Z\alpha are presented for the two-loop Lamb shift, notably for the two-loop self-energy correction, for the ground and first excited states of ions with the nuclear charge numbers Z=60-100. A detailed comparison of the all-order calculation with earlier investigations based on an expansion in the parameter Z\alpha is given. The calculation removes the largest theoretical uncertainty for the 2p_j-2s...

We review the progress made in the determination of the weak charge, Q\_w, of the cesium nucleus which raises the status of Atomic Parity Violation measurements to that of a precision electroweak test. Not only is it necessary to have a precision measurement of the electroweak asymmetry in the highly forbidden 6S-7S transition, but one also needs a precise calibration procedure. The 1999 precision measurement by the Boulder group implied a 2.5 sigma deviation of Q\_w from the...

Measurements of energy separations in highly charged ions can in many cases nowadays be performed with very high accuracy, an accuracy that sometimes cannot be matched by the corresponding theoretical calcula- tions. Furthermore, it has recently been demonstrated that there is a systematic deviation between experimental and theoretical results for the K- alpha lines of medium-heavy heliumlike ions. We have during a number of years been developing a general procedure for energ...

We recall how nearly half a century ago the proposal was made to explore the structure of the quantum vacuum using slow heavy-ion collisions. Pursuing this topic we review the foundational concept of spontaneous vacuum decay accompanied by observable positron emission in heavy-ion collisions and describe the related theoretical developments in strong fields QED.

In Penning traps electromagnetic forces are used to confine charged particles under well-controlled conditions for virtually unlimited time. Sensitive detection methods have been developed to allow observation of single stored ions. Various cooling methods can be employed to reduce the energy of the trapped particle to nearly at rest. In this review we summarize how highly charged ions offer unique possibilities for precision measurements in Penning traps. Precision atomic an...

Quantum electrodynamics is the first successful and still the most successful quantum field theory. Simple atoms, being essentially QED systems, allow highly accurate theoretical predictions. Because of their simple spectra, such atoms have been also efficiently studied experimentally frequently offering the most precisely measured quantities. Our review is devoted to comparison of theory and experiment in the field of precision physics of light simple atoms. In particular, w...

We report on our calculations of differential hyperfine anomalies in the nuclear single-particle model for a number of atoms and ions of interest for studies of fundamental symmetries violations. Comparison with available experimental data allows one to discriminate between different nuclear magnetization models, and this data supports the use of the nuclear single-particle model over the commonly-used uniform ball model. Accurate modelling of the nuclear magnetization distri...

We perform quantum electrodynamic calculations of the ionization energy of the $1s3d$ states of the $^4$He atom, including a complete evaluation of the $m\alpha^6$ correction. We find a large contribution from the nonradiative part of this correction, which has not been accounted for in previous investigations. The additional contribution shifts theoretical predictions for ionization energies by about 10$\,\sigma$. Despite this shift, we confirm the previously reported system...