Constraints on the String T-Duality Propagator from the Hydrogen Atom

Abstract

We investigate the implications of a string-theory modified propagator in the high-precision regime of quantum mechanics. In particular, we examine the situation in which string theory is compactified at the T-duality self-dual radius. The corresponding propagator is closely related to the one derived from the path integral duality. Our focus is on the hydrogen ground state energy and the $1\text{S}_{1/2}-2\text{S}_{1/2}$ transition frequency as they are the most precisely explored properties of the hydrogen atom. In our analysis, the T-duality propagator affects the photon field leading to a modified Coulomb potential. Thus, our study is complementary to investigations where the electron evolution is modified as in studies of a minimal length in the context of the generalized uncertainty principle. The first manifestation of the T-duality propagator arises at fourth order in the fine-structure constant, including a logarithmic term. The constraints on the underlying parameter, the zero-point length, reach down to $3.9 \times 10^{-19}\, \text{m}$ and are in full agreement with previous studies on black holes.