Quadruple Integral in the Lamb Shift

In summary, the conversation discusses the analytical computation of the shift in energy level of electrons in atoms due to quantum electrodynamics using perturbation theory. The fourth-order contribution is given in five different terms, one of which is the "Electron Self Energy" term that involves seven quadruple integrals. The speaker is seeking assistance in computing one of the integrals and hopes to use the knowledge gained to compute the others. The specific integral mentioned is reported in a publication and the result is provided. The speaker asks for guidance on which integral to compute first.
  • #1
Francisco Alegria
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TL;DR Summary
Computation of a quadruple integral that comes up when computing the fourth order contribuition to the Lamb Shift in energy of the electron orbiltals - Self energy part
The analytical computation of the shift in energy level of electrons in atoms due to quantum electrodynamics is carried out using perturbation theory. In particular, the fourth-order contribution is given in five different terms. One of them, usually called "Electron Self Energy", leads to seven different quadruple integrals. I do not know how to compute any of them on my own.

I ask anyone for some assistance in computing one of the easiest ones (with what I learn from you, I hope to be able to do the other ones).
Here it is:

$$\int_{0}^{1}\int_{0}^{1}\int_{0}^{1}\int_{0}^{1}\frac{w(w-1)(1-u^2)v^2}{v(1-u)z+(1-w)u}dudzdvdw$$

The result reported in M. F. Soto, "Calculation of the Slope at q^2=0 of the Dirac Form Factor for the Electron Vertex in Fourth Order", Physical Review A, vol. 2, no. 3, pp. 734-758, September 1970, eq. (A7) and (A8) is ##\pi^2/120-5/32##.

Which integral should I do first?
 
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First, we can rewrite the integral as follows:

$$\int_{0}^{1}\int_{0}^{1}\int_{0}^{1}\int_{0}^{1}\frac{w(w-1)(1-u^2)v^2}{v(1-u)z+(1-w)u}dudzdvdw = \int_{0}^{1}\int_{0}^{1}\int_{0}^{1}\int_{0}^{1}\frac{w(w-1)(1-u^2)v}{(1-u)z+(1-w)u}dudzdvdw$$

Next, we can use the substitution ##x = (1-u)z + (1-w)u## to simplify the integral. This substitution allows us to rewrite the integral as follows:

$$\int_{0}^{1}\int_{0}^{1}\int_{0}^{1}\int_{0}^{1}\frac{w(w-1)(1-u^2)v}{x}dudzdvdw$$

To compute this integral, we can use the method of partial fractions. First, we can factor the numerator as follows:

$$w(w-1)(1-u^2)v = w(u+1)(u-1)v = w(u^2-1)v$$

Next, we can rewrite the integral as follows:

$$\int_{0}^{1}\int_{0}^{1}\int_{0}^{1}\int_{0}^{1}\frac{w(u^2-1)v}{x}dudzdvdw$$

We can now split the integral into four separate integrals, each with respect to one of the variables:

$$\int_{0}^{1}\frac{w}{x}\int_{0}^{1}\int_{0}^{1}\int_{0}^{1}(u^2-1)v\,dudzdvw$$

$$+\int_{0}^{1}\frac{u^2-1}{x}\int_{0}^{1}\int_{0}^{1}\int_{0}^{1}wv\,dudzdvw$$

$$+\int_{0}^{1}\frac{v}{x}\int_{0}^{1}\int_{0}^{1}\int_{0}^{1}w(u^2-
 

FAQ: Quadruple Integral in the Lamb Shift

What is the Lamb Shift?

The Lamb Shift refers to a small difference in energy levels of hydrogen-like atoms, particularly the 2S and 2P states. This phenomenon arises from quantum electrodynamics (QED) effects, including vacuum polarization and the interaction between the electron and the quantized electromagnetic field. It was first measured by Willis Lamb and Robert Retherford in 1947, providing crucial evidence for QED.

What role does the quadruple integral play in calculating the Lamb Shift?

The quadruple integral is utilized in the calculations of the Lamb Shift to account for the contributions from various quantum states and their interactions. Specifically, it integrates over the spatial coordinates of the electron and the photon field, taking into consideration their respective probabilities and interactions. This multi-dimensional integration is essential for accurately predicting the energy shifts observed in experiments.

Why is the quadruple integral complex in this context?

The complexity of the quadruple integral in the context of the Lamb Shift arises from the need to consider multiple variables simultaneously, including the positions of the electron and the virtual photons. The integrand often involves complicated functions that describe the interactions and quantum states, leading to challenging mathematical expressions that require advanced techniques for evaluation.

How does the quadruple integral improve the accuracy of Lamb Shift predictions?

By employing quadruple integrals, physicists can incorporate more detailed interactions and contributions from virtual particles in the vacuum. This leads to more accurate predictions of energy shifts, as it allows for a comprehensive treatment of the electromagnetic interactions that influence the atomic states. The precision of these calculations is crucial for matching theoretical predictions with experimental results.

Are there any numerical methods used to evaluate quadruple integrals in the Lamb Shift calculations?

Yes, various numerical methods, such as Monte Carlo integration, adaptive quadrature, and tensor product methods, are commonly employed to evaluate quadruple integrals in Lamb Shift calculations. These techniques help approximate the integrals when analytical solutions are infeasible, enabling physicists to obtain reliable estimates of the energy shifts associated with the Lamb Shift.

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