Photon propagator in Coulomb gauge

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on deriving the photon propagator in Coulomb gauge using the method outlined in Stefan Pokorski's book, "Gauge Field Theories." The participants clarify the distinction between Lorenz and Coulomb gauges, emphasizing that the photon propagator in Lorenz gauge is represented by the equation involving the transverse field, while the Coulomb gauge introduces a different formulation. Key insights include the necessity of adjusting the propagator expression to account for the role of the gauge condition and the implications of charge interactions in the Coulomb gauge. The conversation highlights the elegance of maintaining covariance in calculations despite the gauge choice.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of gauge theories, specifically Lorenz and Coulomb gauges.
  • Familiarity with photon propagators and Green's functions in quantum field theory.
  • Knowledge of tensor notation and manipulation in relativistic physics.
  • Experience with perturbation theory and Feynman diagrams in quantum electrodynamics.
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the derivation of the photon propagator in Lorenz gauge as presented in "Gauge Field Theories" by Stefan Pokorski.
  • Learn about the implications of gauge choice on quantum field theory calculations.
  • Investigate the role of charge interactions in the Coulomb gauge and their effects on propagator calculations.
  • Explore the use of Feynman diagrams for corrections in interacting theories, particularly in quantum electrodynamics.
USEFUL FOR

Physicists, particularly those specializing in quantum field theory, gauge theories, and anyone involved in theoretical particle physics who seeks to deepen their understanding of photon propagators in different gauge conditions.

lalo_u
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My aim is to derive the photon propagator in an Coulomb gauge following Pokorski's book method.
In this book the photon propagator in Lorenz gauge was obtained as follows:
  1. Lorenz gauge: ##\partial_{\mu}A^{\mu}=0##
  2. It's proved that ##\delta_{\mu}A^{\mu}_T=0##, where ##A^{\mu}_T=(g^{\mu\nu}-\frac{\partial^{\mu}\partial{\nu}}{\partial^2})A^{\mu}## is the transverse field.
  3. Then, ##\partial^2A^T_{\mu}=0\rightarrow (\partial^2-i\epsilon)D_{\mu\nu}(x-y)=-(g_{\mu\nu}-\frac{\partial_{\mu}\partial_{\nu}}{\partial^2})\delta(x-y)##, is the equation for the corresponding the Green's function in the transverse space.
  4. After a Fourien transformations this becomes ##(-k^2-i\epsilon)\tilde{D}_{\mu\nu}(k)=-(g_{\mu\nu}-\frac{k_{\mu}k_{\nu}}{k^2})##.
Now, in Coulomb gauge,
  1. Coulomb gauge: ##\partial_{\mu}A^{\mu}-(n_{\mu}\partial^{\mu})(n_{\mu}A^{\mu})=0, \; n_{\mu}(1,0,0,0)##
  2. I've tried to do the same program as before but I'm stuck. It's supose the propagator we have to obtain is:
$$\tilde{D}^{\alpha\beta}_{\mu\nu}=\frac{\delta^{\alpha\beta}}{k^2+i\epsilon}\left[g_{\mu\nu}-\frac{k\cdot n(k_{\mu}n_{\nu}+k_{\nu}n_{\mu})-k_{\nu}k_{\mu}}{(k\cdot n)^2-k^2}\right]$$.

The reference,
Gauge Field Theories, 2000. Stefan Pokorski. Pages: 129-132.

I'll appreciate any help.
 
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First, it is Lorenz. Then why do you need to use the method in this book?
 
If you read it again, the first component of de field has been removed, so it's Coulomb.

I'm trying to do this method, because seemed ellegant to me: it's done covariantly, even though we are dealing with Coulomb. :smile:
 
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lalo_u said:
If you read it again, the first component of de field has been removed, so it's Coulomb.

I'm trying to do solve it in this method, because the elegance in put the terms in a covariance form despite of we're treating with Coulomb [emoji4]
 
lalo_u said:
In this book the photon propagator in Lorentz gauge

dextercioby said:
First, it is Lorenz.

@dextercioby 's point is that you have the named the gauge after the wrong person, i.e., "Lorenz gauge" (condition) is correct, and "Lorentz gauge" (condition) is incorrect.
 
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The role of ##k^\mu## in Lorenz gauge is played by ##k^\mu-(n\cdot k)n^\mu## in Coulomb gauge; make this replacement in ##g^{\mu\nu}-k^\mu k^\nu/k^2##, including in the ##k^2## factor in the denominator. This will give you almost the desired expression, but you will have an extra term with ##n^\mu n^\nu##. This is canceled by including the explicit charge-charge Coulomb interaction in Coulomb gauge.
 
Avodyne said:
The role of ##k^\mu## in Lorenz gauge is played by ##k^\mu-(n\cdot k)n^\mu## in Coulomb gauge; make this replacement in ##g^{\mu\nu}-k^\mu k^\nu/k^2##, including in the ##k^2## factor in the denominator. This will give you almost the desired expression, but you will have an extra term with ##n^\mu n^\nu##. This is canceled by including the explicit charge-charge Coulomb interaction in Coulomb gauge.
Thank you Avodyne, but there are two more things, a) we are calculating the photon free propagator, is it correct considering any interaction?, b) what about the extra ##\delta_{\alpha\beta}## at the beginning of the expression?
 
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To compute the propagator in the interacting theory (order by order in perturbation theory), we must compute the corrections from Feynman diagrams with loops. The free propagator is the starting point.

The Kronecker delta presumably refers to the adjoint index of a non-abelian gauge field.
 
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