Theoretical prediction of the fine and hyperfine structure of heavy muonic atoms

Abstract

Precision calculations of the fine and hyperfine structure of muonic atoms are performed in a relativistic approach and results for muonic 205 Bi, 147 Sm, and 89 Zr are presented. The hyperfine structure due to magnetic dipole and electric quadrupole splitting is calculated in first order perturbation theory, using extended nuclear charge and current distributions. The leading correction from quantum electrodynamics, namely vacuum polarization in Uehling approximation, is included as a potential directly in the Dirac equation. Also, an effective screening potential due to the surrounding electrons is calculated, and the leading relativistic recoil correction is estimated.