Photon propagator in Coulomb gauge

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Discussion Overview

The discussion focuses on deriving the photon propagator in Coulomb gauge, referencing methods from Pokorski's book. Participants explore the differences between the Lorenz and Coulomb gauges, the mathematical formulation of the propagator, and the implications of various terms in the equations.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant aims to derive the photon propagator in Coulomb gauge using a method from a specific reference, noting the established form in Lorenz gauge.
  • Another participant questions the necessity of using the method from the book, suggesting that the gauge is Lorenz.
  • Some participants clarify that the first component of the field has been removed, indicating the focus on Coulomb gauge.
  • There is a discussion about the elegance of the method being covariant despite dealing with Coulomb gauge.
  • One participant corrects the terminology used, emphasizing the distinction between "Lorenz gauge" and "Lorentz gauge."
  • A suggestion is made to replace terms in the Lorenz gauge expression to adapt it for Coulomb gauge, noting that this leads to an extra term that must be canceled by considering charge-charge interactions.
  • Another participant raises concerns about calculating the free propagator in the presence of interactions and questions the role of the Kronecker delta in the expression.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the terminology of the gauge and the appropriateness of the method being used. There is no consensus on the derivation process or the implications of certain terms in the propagator expression.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight potential issues regarding the inclusion of interactions when calculating the free propagator and the significance of specific terms in the equations, which remain unresolved.

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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