Vacuum Polarization in a Strong Coulomb Field

Abstract

A study is carried out of the vacuum polarization in a strong Coulomb field. Radiative corrections are neglected. A perturbation calculation is avoided by making use of the explicit solutions of the Dirac equation in a Coulomb field. The Laplace transform of the polarization charge density times ${r}^{2}$ is found and used as a basis for further study. It is proved to be an analytic function of the strength of the inducing charge. It is verified that the first-order term in a power series expansion in the strength of the inducing charge just corresponds to the Uehling potential. The third-order term is studied in some detail. The leading term in the polarization potential close to the inducing charge and the space integral of the induced potential divided by $r$ are found to all orders in the strength of the inducing charge. Ambiguities are handled by a method corresponding to regularization.Some experimental applications are considered. The corrections to the Uehling term in these cases are found to be small.