Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1972

Publication Title

Physical Review A

Volume

5

Issue

5

First Page

1979

Last Page

1985

Abstract

The rate of spontaneous emission of radiation by a loosely bound composite system is calculated from quantum electrodynamics correct through terms of relative order α2Z2. Recent criticisms by Feinberg and Sucher of the semiclassical method of deriving the higher-order radiation coupling terms are discussed. It is proved that the Breit interaction remains valid in the presence of radiation emission and that the semiclassical and quantum-electrodynamic methods of deriving the higher-order coupling terms always yield the same results to relative order α2Z2. We discuss in particular relativistic corrections to allowed and spin-forbidden electric dipole transitions and the 1s2s S13-1s2 S01 magnetic dipole transition. © 1972 The American Physical Society.

Comments

copyright American Physical Society http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.5.1979

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