Vacuum polarization in a hydrogen-like relativistic atom: g factor of a bound electron

The contribution of vacuum polarization to the g factor of a bound electron is considered for the,ground state of a hydrogen-like atom. A final expres sion for the correction is obtained in terms of a generalized hypergeometri c functions and represents a function of parameter Za and the ratio of the mass of the orbital particle (electron or muon) to the mass of a particle i n the vacuum loop. Different asymptotic forms of this expression are derive d for both common and muon atoms. (C) 2001 MAIK "Nauka/Interperiodica".