RADIATIVE-CORRECTIONS TO THE HYPERFINE-STRUCTURE SPLITTING OF HYDROGENLIKE SYSTEMS

We present a complete calculation of the leading nonrecoil radiative c orrections to the is hyperfine-structure splitting of highly charged h ydrogenlike ions. In particular, we have investigated how the radiativ e corrections for ions with a high nuclear charge number Z are affecte d by using an extended nuclear magnetization. We also present the firs t complete evaluation of the Wichmann-Kroll part of the vacuum polariz ation correction to all orders in (Z alpha). To unambiguously incorpor ate this effect we have also calculated the vacuum polarization correc tion to the measured nuclear magnetic moment. Total theoretical result s are collected for the experimentally interesting ions Bi-209(82+), P b-207(81+), Re-185(74+), and Ho-165(66+). Also the low-Z region is con sidered in order to compare with the known part of the (Z alpha) expan sion. [S1050-2947(98)02608-0]