Vacuum polarization for an electron in a strong Coulomb field

Abstract

The electronic energy shifts due to the vacuum polarization are calculated to all orders $\ensuremath{\alpha}{(Z\ensuremath{\alpha})}^{n}$, $n\ensuremath{\ge}1$, and $100\ensuremath{\le}Z\ensuremath{\le}174$. The calculations are carried through in momentum space and the results are generally in good agreement with coordinate-space results. The momentum-space method is discussed in detail.