Nuclear polarization corrections inμ−He4atoms

Abstract

A variety of approximations are investigated which allow us to estimate rather simply the dominant dipole part of the Coulomb-excited nuclear polarization corrections to the $\mu -{}_{}{}^4{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{He}$ atom in $S$ states. In particular, the unretarded dipole approximation provides an effective upper limit to this correction and lowest-order Coulomb corrections have been calculated in this approximation. We find that -3.1 meV ± 20% is a reasonable estimate for the complete result.