Relativistic Coulomb Problem: Analytic Upper Bounds on Energy Levels

Abstract

The spinless relativistic Coulomb problem is the bound-state problem for the spinless Salpeter equation (a standard approximation to the Bethe--Salpeter formalism as well as the most simple generalization of the nonrelativistic Schrödinger formalism towards incorporation of relativistic effects) with the Coulomb interaction potential (the static limit of the exchange of some massless bosons, as present in unbroken gauge theories). The nonlocal nature of the Hamiltonian encountered here, however, renders extremely difficult to obtain rigorous analytic statements on the corresponding solutions. In view of this rather unsatisfactory state of affairs, we derive (sets of) analytic upper bounds on the involved energy eigenvalues.