NUCLEAR-POLARIZATION CONTRIBUTION TO THE LAMB SHIFT IN ACTINIDE NUCLEI

The contribution of nuclear polarization to the Lamb shifts of bound electrons in the 1s1/2, 2s1/2, and 2p1/2 states is considered for various even-A nuclei (230≤A≤252 with 90≤Z≤98). Utilizing the concept of effective photon propagators with nuclear polarization insertions, the effective self-energy shifts due to virtual excitation of collective nuclear rotational and vibrational states and of the dominant giant dipole resonance are calculated. The formalism is extended to odd-Z nuclei for which the effective interaction is derived within the single-particle approach. While the corresponding energy shifts of the 1s1/2 state represent a considerable correction, the contribution to the 2s-2p splitting is comparable to the current accuracy of high-precision experiments. © 1995 The American Physical Society.