X-ray energies of circular transitions and electron screening in kaonic atoms

Abstract

The QED contribution to the energies of the circular $(n,\ensuremath{\ell}=n\ensuremath{-}1)$, $2\ensuremath{\leqslant}n\ensuremath{\leqslant}13$, transitions have been calculated for several kaonic atoms throughout the periodic table, using the current world-average kaon mass. Calculations were done in the framework of the Klein-Gordon equation, with finite nuclear size, finite particle size, and all-order Uelhing vacuum polarization corrections, as well as K\"all\'en and Sabry and Wichmann and Kroll corrections. These energy level values are compared with other computed values. The circular transition energies are compared with available measured and theoretical transition energies. Electron screening is evaluated using a Dirac-Fock model for the electronic part of the wave function. The effect of electronic wave-function correlation is evaluated.