Vacuum Polarization and Proton-Proton Scattering

An attempt is made to verify the presence of effects due to vacuum polarization in available experimental data on proton-proton scattering. In spite of the smallness of these effects and relatively large errors in the data, it appears that the data substantiates the predicted effects of vacuum polarization on the electrostatic interaction of two protons, particularly on the assumption of a Yukawa shape for the nuclear potential. By correcting the available data for these effects, new values are obtained for the zero-energy scattering length and effective range of the nuclear interaction between two protons. The results in the notation of Blatt and Jackson are: -R/a=3.704, r₀=2.76×10^-13 cm.