Modified Coulomb Law in a Strongly Magnetized Vacuum

We study the electric potential of a charge placed in a strong magnetic field B≫B₀≃4.4×10¹³  G, as modified by the vacuum polarization. In such a field the electron Larmour radius is much less than its Compton length. At the Larmour distances a scaling law occurs, with the potential determined by a magnetic-field-independent function. The scaling regime implies short-range interaction, expressed by the Yukawa law. The electromagnetic interaction regains its long-range character at distances larger than the Compton length, the potential decreasing across B faster than along. Correction to the nonrelativistic ground-state energy of a hydrogenlike atom is found. In the limit B=∞, the modified potential becomes the Dirac δ function plus a regular background. With this potential the ground-state energy is finite—the best pronounced effect of the vacuum polarization.