Self-energy correction to the energy levels of heavy muonic atoms

The first fully relativistic, rigorous QED calculations of the self-energycorrection to the fine-structure levels of heavy muonic atoms are reported. Wediscuss nuclear model and parameter dependence for this contribution as well asnumerical convergence issues. The presented results show sizable disagreementwith previously reported estimations, including ones used for the determinationof the nuclear root-mean-square radii, and underline the importance of rigorousQED calculations for the theoretical prediction of the spectra of muonic atoms.