Electron mass renormalization and absorption of hard photons

Abstract

Mass renormalization of the electron in configurations such as metallic hydride surfaces due to electromagnetic field fluctuations leads to mass enhancement of the electron, which is known as the heavy electron. The effective mass renormalization has substantial consequences in the theory of electromagnetic field interaction with matter (QED). One of the fascinating effects appears when an external photon interacts with the heavy electron. In this case, the wavelength of the scattered photon from the electron increases and the hard photon turns into a soft photon. In this paper, we present a novel mechanism to show how the heavy electron results in hard photon absorption.