Constraining Born–Infeld-like nonlinear electrodynamics using hydrogen’s ionization energy

Abstract

Abstract In this work, the hydrogen’s ionization energy was used to constrain the free parameter b of three Born–Infeld-like electrodynamics namely Born–Infeld itself, Logarithmic electrodynamics and Exponential electrodynamics. An analytical methodology capable of calculating the hydrogen ground state energy level correction for a generic nonlinear electrodynamics was developed. Using the experimental uncertainty in the ground state energy of the hydrogen atom, the bound $$b>5.37\times 10^{20}K\frac{V}{m}$$ b>5.37×1020KVm , where $$K=2$$ K=2 , $$4\sqrt{2}/3$$ 42/3 and $$\sqrt{\pi }$$ π for the Born–Infeld, Logarithmic and Exponential electrodynamics respectively, was established. In the particular case of Born–Infeld electrodynamics, the constraint found for b was compared with other constraints present in the literature.