Powered by OpenAIRE graph
Found an issue? Give us feedback
image/svg+xml art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos Open Access logo, converted into svg, designed by PLoS. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Open_Access_logo_PLoS_white.svg art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos http://www.plos.org/ ZENODOarrow_drop_down
image/svg+xml art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos Open Access logo, converted into svg, designed by PLoS. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Open_Access_logo_PLoS_white.svg art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos http://www.plos.org/
ZENODO
Preprint . 2026
License: CC BY
Data sources: ZENODO
ZENODO
Preprint . 2026
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
ZENODO
Preprint . 2026
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
versions View all 2 versions
addClaim

Vacuum Polarization Correction to the Proton Charge Radius Puzzle: A Lepton-Mass Dependent Effective Metric Approach

Authors: Chen, Yansong;

Vacuum Polarization Correction to the Proton Charge Radius Puzzle: A Lepton-Mass Dependent Effective Metric Approach

Abstract

The persistent discrepancy between the proton charge radius measured from muonic hydrogen ($r_p \approx 0.84 \text{ fm}$) and electronic hydrogen ($r_p \approx 0.88 \text{ fm}$)—the "proton radius puzzle"—suggests a potential violation of lepton universality or an incomplete understanding of vacuum structure at short distances. In this Letter, we propose a mechanism of \textbf{nonlinear vacuum metric response}. By treating the vacuum as a dielectric-like medium with a finite elastic modulus coupled to electromagnetic energy density, we derive a conformal scaling factor for the local metric. The contraction of the effective metric is analytically derived as $\eta = \alpha \ln(m_\mu/m_e)$, where the coupling factor arises from the summation over vacuum polarization modes. This formula yields a radius shrinkage of \textbf{3.8906\%}, which agrees with the experimental discrepancy of \textbf{3.9115\%} to within \textbf{0.02\%}. We further predict a radius of \textbf{0.823 fm} for tauonic hydrogen.\end{abstract}

Keywords

Lepton Universality, Proton Radius Puzzle, Vacuum Polarization, Quantum Electrodynamics, Effective Metric, Muonic Hydrogen

  • BIP!
    Impact byBIP!
    selected citations
    These citations are derived from selected sources.
    This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
    0
    popularity
    This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
    Average
    influence
    This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
    Average
    impulse
    This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
    Average
Powered by OpenAIRE graph
Found an issue? Give us feedback
selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
0
Average
Average
Average
Green