Precise Values for Critical Fields in Quantum Electrodynamics *

A careful investigation of different corrections to binding energies of electrons in almost critical fields is performed. We investigate quantitatively the influence of the nuclear charge parameters, nuclear mass, degree of ionization on the value of the critical charge of the nucleus. Rather qualitative arguments are given to establish the contribution of the quantumelectrodynamic corrections, which are found to be small. Some phenomenological modifications of QED are quantitatively investigated and found to be of negligible influence on the value of the critical field. For heavy ion collisions with ZlJrZ2^> Z c r the critical separations between ions are given as results of precise solutions of the relativistic two coulomb center problem. Corrections due to electron-electron interaction are considered. We find (with present theoretical accuracy) Z c r = 173 + 2, in the heavy ion collisions RCT(U-U) = 34.7 ± 2 fm and RCT (U-C f) = 47.7 ± 2 fm. We shortly consider the possibility of spontaneous muon production in muonic supercritical fields.