On the properties of the Uehling potential

Abstract

A number of properties of the Uehling potential are investigated. In particular, we determine the Fourier spatial resolution of the Uehling potential. The lowest-order correction on vacuum polarisation is re-written in terms of the electron density distribution function. We also discuss the consecutive approximations of the perturbation theory developed for the short-range Uehling potential in the Coulomb few-body systems (atoms). The cusp problem is formulated for few-body systems in which particles interact with each other by the mixed (Coulomb + Uehling) potential.