Abstract
An intuitive explanation is given for the electromagnetic shift of energy levels by calculating the mean square amplitude of oscillation of an electron coupled to the zero-point fluctuations of the electromagnetic field. The resulting disturbance of the charge and current density of the electron gives rise to various observable effects which can be estimated in a simple classical fashion. The effects treated are the Lamb shift, the correction to the -factor for the orbital and spin angular momenta of the electron, and the correction to the Compton scattering cross section at low energies. A simple explanation is also given for the peculiar ultraviolet divergence noticed by Pauli and Fierz in their treatment of the infra-red paradox.
- Received 4 June 1948
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRev.74.1157
©1948 American Physical Society