Proton-Proton Effective-Range Theory with Vacuum Polarization

The effect of vacuum polarization upon $p-p$ scattering is considered by first solving the problem in the Coulomb plus vacuum polarization potentials (called "electric" potential) without the nuclear potential. The nuclear phase shifts are then defined with respect to the electric wave functions, and the scattering cross section is written in terms of these phase shifts. The connection with other nuclear phase shifts (in the presence of vacuum polarization) which appear in the literature is established.