High-precision relativistic atomic structure calculations and the EBIT: Tests of quantum electrodynamics in highly charged ions

Abstract

High-precision relativistic atomic-structure calculations based on the relativistic many-body perturbation theory and the relativistic configuration-interaction method are shown to provide stringent tests of strong-field quantum electrodynamic (QED) corrections when compared with electron beam ion trap measurements of the spectra of highly charged, many-electron ions. It is further shown that theory and experiment are accurate enough to test not just the leading screened QED corrections but also smaller contributions from higher order Breit interactions, relaxed-core QED corrections, two-loop Lamb shifts, negative-energy state corrections, nuclear polarizations, and nuclear recoils. PACS Nos. 31.30.Jv, 32.30.Rj, 31.25.–v, 31.15.Ar