U(1) Field Theory in the Limit of a Large Coupling Constant

TL;DR

This paper analyzes a U(1) gauge theory with a massive fermion at large coupling, revealing a generalized London term, partial gauge symmetry breaking, and implications for quark confinement.

Contribution

It introduces a novel analysis of U(1) field theory at large coupling, showing how massive excitations and gauge symmetry breaking emerge in this limit.

Findings

Presence of a generalized London term in the current

Massive excitations for two gauge field components

Scalar potential increases with distance, affecting gauge invariance

Abstract

We consider a massive fermion interacting with a U(1) gauge field in the limit of a large coupling constant. It is found that the current has a generalized London term that can originate massive excitations for two of the three components of the gauge field, which disappear for a free particle at rest. The origin of the superconductive term is due to a partial breaking of the gauge symmetry in the limit of a large coupling constant. Beside, the scalar potential generated by the particle, the only component of the gauge field that keeps gauge invariance, increases with the square of the distance. These results should give a path towards the derivation of quark confinement from QCD.