STRONG COULOMB COUPLING IN RELATIVISTIC QUANTUM CONSTRAINT DYNAMICS

Abstract

We study, in the framework of relativistic quantum constraint dynamics, the bound state problem of two oppositely charged spin 1/2 particles, with masses m1 and m2, in mutual electromagnetic interaction. We search for the critical value of the coupling constant α for which the bound state energy reaches the lower continuum, thus indicating the instability of the heavier particle or of the strongly coupled QED vacuum in the equal mass case. Two different choices of the electromagnetic potential are considered, corresponding to different extensions of the substitution rule into the nonperturbative region of α: (i) the Todorov potential, already introduced in the quasipotential approach and used by Crater and Van Alstine in Constraint Dynamics; (ii) a second potential (potential II), characterized by a regular behavior at short distances. For the Todorov potential we find that for m2>m1 there is always a critical value αc of α, depending on m2/m1, for which instability occurs. In the equal mass case, instability is reached at αc=1/2 with a vanishing value of the cutoff radius, generally needed for this potential at short distances. For potential II, on the other hand, we find that instability occurs only for m2>2.16 m1.