The radiative correction to the electron charge-density distribution δρ(r) in the hydrogen atom due to the self-interaction and vacuum polarization is calculated in the leading order of perturbation theory. For large distances [r∼1/(mα)] this correction is small, whereas for small r∼1/m it is comparable to the relativistic corrections coming from the Dirac wave function.

• Received 14 January 1993

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.48.120