Implications of gauge freedom for nonrelativistic quantum electrodynamics
Adam Stokes, Ahsan Nazir
Abstract
This article reviews the meaning of gauge freedom in quantum electrodynamics and emphasizes its consistency with examples and analyses. It thus demonstrates that ambiguities and recent controversies are resolved by proper identification of physically relevant observables of field and matter subsystems. Since these observables differ for different gauges, light and matter subsystems can only be defined relative to the choice of gauge, with implications for the identification of effective few-dimensional models, entanglement, phase transitions, and cavity quantum electrodynamics effects beyond weak-coupling regimes.
Topics & Concepts
PhysicsObservableGauge theoryQuantum entanglementDegrees of freedom (physics and chemistry)Gauge (firearms)Theoretical physicsQuantum electrodynamicsIntroduction to gauge theoryCavity quantum electrodynamicsField (mathematics)Quantum mechanicsConsistency (knowledge bases)Coupling (piping)QuantumQuantum field theoryClassical electromagnetismOpen quantum systemEngineeringMathematicsMechanical engineeringArchaeologyPure mathematicsGeometryHistoryQuantum Information and CryptographyQuantum Electrodynamics and Casimir EffectQuantum Mechanics and Applications