Gauge invariance properties of transition amplitudes in gauge theories. I

Abstract

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 oftransition 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, isexplicitly 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.