Self-energy correction to the energy levels of heavy muonic atoms

Abstract

The first fully relativistic, rigorous QED calculations of the self-energy correction to the fine-structure levels of heavy muonic atoms are reported. We discuss nuclear model and parameter dependence for this contribution as well as numerical convergence issues. The presented results show sizable disagreement with previously reported estimations, including ones used for the determination of the nuclear root-mean-square radii, and underline the importance of rigorous QED calculations for the theoretical prediction of the spectra of muonic atoms.