The higher-order black-body radiation shift of atomic energy-levels

Abstract

The one-loop correction and two-loop contribution to black-body radiation (BBR) shift are restudied. The S-matrix approach and nonrelativistic quantum electrodynamics (NRQED) are adopted in finite temperature case. The relativistic correction to one-loop BBR-shift has a $(Z\alpha {)}^2\alpha T^2/m$-order contribution. In the two-loop case, the pure thermal (real) photon part is too tiny to be detected; while the corrections induced by the thermal and virtual mixing diagram are at $(Z\alpha {)}^2{\alpha }^2{T}^2/m$ order. We calculate the relativistic correction to one-loop BBR-shift in the ground state of hydrogen and ionized helium, which is larger than the leading term. As the leading term is proportional to $T^4/Z^4$. We estimate these higher-order corrections may be larger than the leading term, when the system is a highly ionized (large $Z$) or a cold (small $T$) one.

Comments: 25 pages, 9 figures