Higher Order Corrections to Positronium Energy Levels and Decay Rates

Franklin And Marshall College, Lancaster PA

Investigators

Abstract

Positronium is an ideal laboratory to study bound state quantum field theory. The present work focuses on the calculation of the energies and decay rates of the low-lying levels of positronium. Theory and older experiments are in disagreement on the spin-triplet decay rate. A more recent experimental measurement of this rate is in much better agreement with theory. The calculation of the O(a2) correction to the orthopositronium decay rate will check the earlier result and help resolve the current diagreement between experiment and theory.