Gauge invariance properties of transition amplitudes in gauge theories. I

Journal Article · Fri Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · Int. J. Theor. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00669292· OSTI ID:6187850

Manoukian, E B

The functional approach developed earlier for scattering theory in quantum field theory makes it possible to make an explicit and complete study of the gauge invariance properties of transition amplitudes (not just of the gauge transformations of Green's functions) in covariant and noncovariant gauges. This paper is devoted to the Abelian gauge theory of quantum electrodynamics. Using the powerful technique of functional differentiation and starting from the Coulomb gauge, the gauge invariance property of transition amplitudes, up to gauge-dependent scaling factors, is explicitly established in arbitrary gauges. The key ingredients in the analysis are the derived exact expression for the vacuum-to-vacuum transition amplitude, introducing in the process arbitrary gauges, and the idea of stimulated emissions by external sources studied earlier.

• Research Organization: Royal Military College, Kingston, Ontario (Canada)
• OSTI ID: 6187850
• Journal Information: Int. J. Theor. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: Int. J. Theor. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 27:7; ISSN IJTPB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

645201 -- High Energy Physics-- Particle Interactions & Properties-Theoretical-- General & Scattering Theory
645400* -- High Energy Physics-- Field Theory
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
ALGEBRAIC CURRENTS
AMPLITUDES
COULOMB FIELD
CURRENTS
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRODYNAMICS
EMISSION
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
FIELD THEORIES
GAUGE INVARIANCE
INVARIANCE PRINCIPLES
QUANTUM ELECTRODYNAMICS
QUANTUM FIELD THEORY
SCATTERING
SPACE-TIME
STIMULATED EMISSION
TRANSITION AMPLITUDES
VACUUM STATES