Nuclear Physics B206 (1982) 103-131

0 North-Holland Pubhshmg Company

LOCAL CONFINEMENT OF CHARGE IN MASSLESS QED

V.K GRIROV

L l2 Landau Inrrrrure for Theorerwal Phywc, USSR Academy of Sciences, Moscow 117334, VorohleL rkoe
qhorre 2, USSR

Recewed 27 July 1981

It IS shown that massless electric charges cannot exist m nature as they are completely locally
wreened In the process of formatlon

1. Introduction

The possibility that massless charged particles exist has always been doubted,
yet no detailed analysis of the problem has ever been performed. It was not clear
what would happen if such particles were introduced in the theory.
The introduction of massless charged particles in the theory occurs permanently
and it is a very attractive approach since the mtroduction of particles with bare
masses different from zero leads to the problem of eigenmasses of particles for the
solution of which we have so far no ideas. If bare particles have no masses, the
mechanism of spontaneous symmetry breaking (condensate formation) can possibly
provide a reasonable explanation of the appearance of mass of the observed
particles.
To understand the essence of the problem associated with the masslessness of
particles it is sufficient to recall what problems were encountered in the thirties in
the description of massive particles and how they were solved. In quantum electro-
dynamics there exist bare massive particles before the interaction is switched on.
The amplitudes of creation and scattering of such particles are easily calculated
in the Born approximation and have a simple and beautiful structure. However,
the calculation of photon emission amplitudes in such processes leads to infrared
divergences which show that the number of photons created in these processes is
large. This has been interpreted as the creation of the particles classical field.
Besides, it has been found that this classical field polarizes the vacuum. As a
result now every student knows that an electron is created with a definite charge
distribution and a classical field around it. The difficulty of the problem
assoctated with the masslessness of particles becomes evident if one remembers
that the probability of photon emission for time I in a process with sufficiently
high momentum transfer q at m*f/q > 1 is determined by

103
104 V N Grdn. / Local confinemetlr of charge

which at m2 + 0 tends to CO.That means that the number of photons appearing in

the creation process of massless particles is essentially larger than that for masslvc
ones. This leads to the fact that the classical field of massless particles IS rather
singular, which would not have been terrible, had it not resulted m a strong vacuum
polarization.
In the present paper we show that massless charged particles created (in a pair
with an antiparticle) in a region of the size of the order of l/q will be screened
due to vacuum polarization for the time t determined by the condition

2 In qt - 1 ,

where (Y= LU(~*) is the charge of the particle.

As a result a massless neutral object (a pair of neutral objects) of size of the
order of l/q will be formed. This result seems natural from the point of view of
the analysis of zero charge in quantum electrodynamics.
The phenomenon is the following. Let us study the creation process of two
classical particles with charges e. and -e. moving m opposite dIrectIons. The current
corresponding to this process is of the form

Cl,
Iti = 1 [ti,S(CX) - c:fi(cx)]S(x)6(X,,) , (2)
-7T

where cW, tl: are light-hke four-vectors of the velocities of the charges.
The electromagnetic field, created by this current is the following*:

F:,. = 2no
x, c,, - x,,c,, _ x,
L ,, - x,c:
6(x).
CX t)X

The strength of the field is different from zero only on the light cone or on the
sphere of the radius t, where t is the time from the moment the charge was created
(fig. 1). Thanks to this simple form of the field it is possible to calculate exactly
the current appearing m the vacuum of free massless fermions. It proves to be
equal to

(5)

where II is a hght-hke vector normal to the cone m the point s. The current is
oriented along the meridians of the sphere, the poles of which are determined by

l In ths paper A,, denotes e,,A,, 1, IS the densay of the number of partlclcb
 V N. Gnhoc / Local confinement ofcharge 105

FIG 1

the instantaneous position of the charges. The charge density on the sphere equals
zero. At the points where the charges are positioned there is a &like diverging
contribution to the current (7 + O),

&I(X)=-$ln f i;(x),
0

necessary from the point of view of charge conservation. The divergence is due to
the fact that the value of the charge transferred from one pole to the other for
time t is proportional not to t but to lnt and is infinite at any finite moment of
time. It implies that physrcally it is impossible to create two charges instantaneously
and it IS necessary to introduce at least an infimtely small duration of the formatton
process r. This is done when the final expresston (7) is derived.
So far we have descrrbed the result for vacuum polartzation in a pure bremsstrah-
lung field of two massless charges created for an arbitrarily small time 7. In fact,
this is not the solution of the problem of what happens in the creation process of
two massless charges since vacuum polarization changes the field of the created
charges. To get a correct answer it is necessary to solve a self-consistent problem,
inserting into the Maxwell equations the current in the form of a sum of external
and polarization currents. This problem can also be solved and the result for the
total current on the sphere j, = jy +I: is the following. The current on the sphere
outside the points where the parttcles are positioned, is equal to

(8)
Ir =(1 + y0 In (t/r))*

where I:._ IS the current in a pure bremsstrahlung field (5), y. = a0/37r. The local
contribution at the points where the particles are positioned is

I*.,(X) = i;
(1 + ytI In (t/7)) .
(9)

The field on the sphere is of the form

F,,, =
F:
(10)
1 + ytI In (t/r)
106 V.N Grlbor / Local confinement of charge

I..i:;. ;-::I,
FIG; 2

This means that massless charges created for time r will be completely locally
screened in a sufficiently large time when

y In (f/r) >>1 .

In the self-consistent field apart from the currents and field on the sphere (8)-( lo),
there are also currents and fields inside the sphere which we shall discuss. Let us
consider how this classical approach IS connected with the quantum description of
the creation process of massless charges. The field A,(x) of the charged particles
created by the external field (for example, e+e annihilation) and observed in the
points xl, x2 is determined by the two diagrams of fig. 2. It is not difficult to show
that the contribution of these two diagrams leads to eq. (3) multiplied by the
amplitude of fig. 3 everywhere inside the sphere of fig. 1 with the exception of the
shaded region. The width of this shaded region is of the order of l/q if the external
field IS a packet of size l/q.
The bremsstrahlung field corresponds to the limit 4 + 00. Calculating the vacuum
polarization in the creation process of massless charges in the first approximation
(fig. 4) and doing it in the formal limit 4 + 30, one gets a current different from
zero in the shaded region. This current has the same structure as (5) differing only
by the replacement of c, by -c,. This replacement implies that the density of the
charge on the sphere is non-zero; its distribution is determined by the denominators
tlx - i( 1 - cos 6) and LIX- i(l + cos 19) and IS singular near the charges.
However, as is shown in the text, the charge distribution in the shaded region
1s defined by the details of the behaviour of the external current during the early
stage of particle creation (r < 1 /q). This means, that the formal calculation in the
limit 4 + co, i.e. the replacement of calculations of the real dragrams by the calcula-
ttons of the current in the singular bremsstrahlung field, is not correct. The structure
(5) of the vacuum current 1s not due to higher order correcttons but is a result of
more thorough calculations of the integral features of the singular current. In the
region near the external charges (black region) one can use the bremsstrahlung
approximation. The result (7) hterally coincides with the perturbation theory.
 V.N Gnboc / Local confinemenl of charge 107

a) b)
FIG 5

Higher order corrections (fig. 5a) are very essential if one wants to calculate the
detailed behaviour inside both regions, but they do not influence the integral
features of the singular current. Both results (5) and (7) are analogous to the sum
rules for inclusive processes, but in coordinate space. The self-consistent solution
(8)-(10) comes from summing the diagrams of fig. 5b. The described result is
interestmg from the point of view of the zero-charge problem [l] and the possible
features of quantum electrodynamics at small distances. According to [l] the
renormalized charge as a function of the cut-off A and mass m of the particle can
be written in the form

ff(A)
a(m2) =
1 +(c~(A)/37r) In (A2/m2)

a(m2) goes to zero when either A goes to infinity or m goes to zero. The zero
value of a(m) in the limit A + COmeans total screening of the particles charge by
the vacuum polarization charge distributed in the region from l/A up to l/m. This
means, that the charged particles we are talking about and the masses of which
enter the formula cannot exist. The above result was considered as a contradiction
inside the theory due to its local structure.
It was not clear how to handle the limit m + 0 because of difficulties connected
with the infrared divergences of the theory. These difficulties can be avoided by
considering the process for a final time t and introducing the classical field instead
of the photons. Final time considerations of the process are preferable also because
in this case one does not need any hypotheses about the character of the stationary
states existing in the theory. The statement in the present paper on the total
screening of the charge in the limit m -PO is in accordance with the idea about the
equivalence of both the limits m +O and A + co. The essential difference is due to
the fact that, in our case, the screening charge is distributed not over the region
l/A <r < l/m, but over that of r of the order l/A. At the same time, from the
point of view of this limit no reason is seen to suppose a contradiction in the theory.
It is more natural to assume that neutral objects which appear in these considerations
and have the velocity of light arc really massless, almost point-like particles (their
sizes are of the order of l/A). Such an interpretation of the zero-charge problem
108 V N. Gnbov / Local confinemenl of charge

is not in contradiction with the equivalence of the limits m + 0 and A + ~0, since
the charge distribution from l/A up to l/m, which appears in the usual approach
is, in fact, the charge distribution inside the stationary state (charged particles) not
existing in the limit A + 30. In our approach it is quite natural that point-like neutral
particles are created in the limit A + CO too. Indeed, applying the calculation
described above not to the creation of massless charges but to that of massive ones,
the only differences would be that (instead of being valid for an arbitrary t) the
formulae would be correct only for a time r less than q/m, where q is the momentum
of the charge. At time less than this q/m2 the masses of the particles do not figure
at all in the calculations. If the momentum q of the particle is of the order of A,
then at the moment t = A/m2 the changing charge of the created ObJect becomes,
according to (9),

a(A)
(1 +(a(A)/37r) In (A2/m2))*

which is going to zero as A + CO.

From all that we have said, it looks natural to suppose that the solution of the
zero-charge problem is the following in both massless and massive QED m the
limit A +OC. In the theory there appear massless neutral point-like particles (size
of the order of l/A) which are bound states of bare charged particles. If one
proposes such a hypothesis, it is interesting to discuss what happens, with these
particles because of the existence of vacuum fluctuations which we have neglected
up to now. It is quite natural to have among these particles scalar ones. However,
scalar massless particles must condense and create an average field in the vacuum.
Since the time these particles require for their formation is of the order of
_l,A e-l/A,
we do not see any reasonable equations for the density of the
condensate except for equations of the type

a(A)
-InL2--1
3r CL

The interactions of massless neutral particles with this condensate would give them
a mass probably of the same order as CL.If the bare charged particles of the theory
are massless, they also can obtain a mass m, but of the order of a@ because of
their coupling constant (Y.The value of n depends on the details of the mechanism
h produces the mass. The result would be the usual QED with massive charged
particles plus heavy neutral particles with mass of order (l/a)m. This theory would
be very similar to the standard theory of electroweak interactions.
In conclusion we should like to stress that, independently of the hypothesis about
the existence of neutral massless particles in the theory, formulae (8)-( 10) describe
in the framework of the usual QED the early stages (t <q/m) of processes like
ee annihilation m leptons. From these formulae it is clear, that if
(cuJ37r) In (q2/m2) a 1, the states which are formed at this stage differ essentially
 V.N. Gnhov / Local confinement of charge 109

from the usual electrons and positrons (the charge of these states is much less than
the electron charge). Therefore it is natural to expect that decays of these states
would produce jets analogous to the jets in hadronic processes.

2. Solution of the Dirac equation for massless particles in a field, singular on the
light cone

To calculate the vacuum current in the bremsstrahlung field (3), (4) let us find
the solution of the Cauchy problem for the Dirac equation in such a field.
Outside the light cone A, = 0 the wave function of a fermion satisfies the free
equation:

l&=0. (11)

Inside the cone

$ti=(&iA,$=O. (12)

The field (4) inside the cone is a pure gauge field:

(13)

and the wave function (I, may be written as

* = e$, &=O. (14)

However, the solution of the free equation (F does not coincide with q on the cone
since A, is discontmuous on the cone and therefore (14) gives no possibility to
find P, i.e. to express Yf by CF.To understand the relation between P and Q, let
us study eq. (12) more thoroughly without assuming that Fpy is absent inside the
cone. Then it is convenient to introduce the following variables. Let us write x, in
the form (fig. 6)

x, = (~2~ +Bn,, ,
(15)
z,=Jf l,! %=J:(l,;),
( r >

,H c/ A \p
d
t----
--------t-

FIG 6
110 V N. Grrho~- / Local tonfinemenl of charge

13, =n,il,+z,a,+a,,

(16)
e=y_v,,+y+vfi+t,
2
Y+ = YLLZU9 y =y,n,, y+=yZ=O, y. y. + y__y_ = 2

Wrrting down 4 as

$=rl/.+&, *+ =:r YbrL, lb =:y.y d, (17)

and multiplymg (12) by y+ and y_, respectively, we shall obtain

o,,c_+;y.$ *=o,
(17)
v,,*++;y P&=0.

Takmg Into account that

y,v =~-jry_y,v~,=
-- a-P
1
y,,v;y,
1 az,
-- Ly_ p YJ,YPc 1
L I)

iii,,
- = 6 v,, - z,,n, - z,,n, = s,, ,
az,,
(18)
s_ _-- az,,
q, al,,
2
y& *= y,e lb,*- JI- ,
a-B

then the Dirac equation is of the form

V,,(CY-/3)* +:y-6% =o,

(19)
Tfi(a-@)lJI( +;y.ezfi =o.

Since eq. (19) does not involve the derivative of IL wrth respect to the normal of
the cone, then I/- may be drscontinuous on the cone while 4. should be continuous
on the cone because in the opposite case the second equation would have contained
6(,!3). Thus, u?. = qo, at /3 = 0, (I/ is calculated by +, and the potential

(20)

F(s, x) = daA, (x)z, . (21)

 V N Gnbou / Local confinement of charge 111

On the cone (at p = 0) we have, therefore,

To find (I, near the cone (at small p), perturbation theory is always applicable,
smce *+ is equal to

and at small p the correction to Q++is small independently of the form of the field.
Despite the fact that we are interested in the current near the cone, to employ
formula (23) is not convenient. Iterations of this formula are in essence the expansion
of rL in a power series of p. If cp corresponds to small momenta of the particle,
then this is reasonable. However, due to divergences in the theory, large momenta
p/3 - 1 wtll become Important. Yet, under these conditions the field is small com-
pared to the momentum. Therefore, perturbation theory is nevertheless valid with
respect to the field. In this case the perturbation theory can eastly be formulated
by means of the retarded Green function.
The solution of the Dirac equation may be written m terms of the solution of
the fret equation on the cone as follows:

(1,= 2 GR(x, x).?~(x)~(x) dx , (24)

I
where Gn(x, x) is the retarded Green functton satisfying the equation

+,GR(x, 1) = 6(x -x) . (25)

Due to the multiplier .?, eq. (24) involves only vs. Let us wrote Grt in the form
,lflr;D .fi~l(.GR(,~, x) ,

GH(x, s) = e
(26)
f(x) =

f(x) is determined by the integration on the straight line C In fig. 6. G, satisfies

the equation

(FJ- &X))&(X, x) = 6(x -x) ) (27)

&=A,+= -
dX,

(28)
xu --x, -(a-a)2 U7
112 V N GN~OL/ Local cot~fi~~en~ettt
of charge

C&(x,x) = G,,(x, x) + Go(x, x)i~(~~)&(x,x) dx . (29)

Since 2 is determined by the strength of the field inside the cone, which is assumed
to be finite at p + 0, and the integration region in (29) tends to zero at p + 0, the
second term in (29) is of the order /3B:

1 _ , 2).
Go=--aS((x-.v)
2n

Formula (24) for $ can easily be checked. Since (24) satisfies the equation, tt 15

necessary to check only the condition J/_ = cp, on the cone.

3. Vacuum current of massless fermions

At f ~0 the vacuum current is determined by the sum of all occupied states

with p. < 0:

I@(X) = -2x d4P il(-P,,)6(P~),,~(X2)r,cp:,(X,) 9 (30)

AI 5

21 (Xl -sz)
j,, = Sp y,G-(XI, ~2) = i (31)
7r (x, -s2)4.

jfi equals zero after the averaging with respect to F, = (.r, -x2),. At t > 0

where &, arc wave functions in the external field coinciding with p,, at r + ~0.
In the region outside the light cone the current is equal to zero. Inside the cone,
if one employs (24), the current may be written m the form

j, = 4 d4.r dAxS(x2)S(x2) Sp yrGK(x, x)iG (x, x)XIGR(XZ, x)

I

(33)

This expression corresponds to the diagram of fig. 7, which shows that to make a
contribution to the current, the particle should enter the region inside the cone
and go out of it in the Feynman sense. The expression x*G(x, x)? involved in
(32) has a wonderful property.

1
x^G(x, x)x^- (x, _ x,,)4 [x*P - X8*,?]

It is equal to zero with the exception of the situation where x and x are on the
same cone ray (the straight hne coming from the vertex). It means that if the
 V N Gnboc / Local confinement of charge 113

FIN, 7 FIG 8

princrple term of (26), (29) is inserted as

GR=e -IGo(x, x) , (35)

we arrive at fig. 8, x,+x, since a free propagation of the wave coming into the
point x = x1 =x2 occurs along the cone ray with its vertex at the point x. Then the
potential in Gn(x, x) and Gn(x, x) is cancelled and we obtain an expression for
the current in the absence of the field, which yields zero after averaging over E.
Corrections to G, bemg taken into account leads to diagrams of fig. 9 type which
are different from zero inside the cone. Thus, we come to the conclusion that in
the case of the bremsstrahlung field when the gauge-invariant potential B, =O
inside the cone, the current insrde the cone also equals zero. In the general case
the current inside the cone is determined by the strength of the field inside the
cone. To calculate the current according to (33) It is necessary to calculate (34) for
x^G - (x, x).? in the limit x, xn + 0 which results m

i iS(zz)
x^G_(x, x),? = -2
a-*

and, accordingly, the expression for the current inside the cone acquires the form

~ 6(x2)6(x2)fi(~*) exp [I A, k.1

x Sp y&GR(x, x)ZIGR(x2, x) . (37)

Let us now discuss the singular part of the current on the cone. In this case (37)
corresponds to the diagram of fig. 10. In the pure bremsstrahlung field

x Sp yWGo(x, x)ZIG,,(xZ, x) . (38)

FIG, 9 FIG 10
114 V N Grrboc / Local confinement of charge

Yet, in the pure bremsstrahlung field

does not depend on o and consequently f(x) -f(x) = 0 m (38). Hence the current
is again Independent of the external field and consequently is equal to zero.
Nevertheless this does not imply that the current on the cone is actually equal
to zero. This is explained by the fact that we have not sufficiently accurately taken
into account the separation of the points xl, x2. Let us assume that xl =x+:E,
x2 = x - ;E, where E is a space-hke vector, over the direction of which averaging
should be performed. If the vector c is in the plane parallel to the plane tangent
to the cone (perpendicular to the plane z, n) then the points x1 and x2 are either
both inside the cone or outside it. Then in the first case we get (38) and consequently
zero m the bremsstrahlung field. In the second case the current is trivially equal
to zero.
However, if the vector F is in the plane (z, n) perpendicular to the plane tangent
to the cone, then one of the points xl, x2 may be outside the cone and the other
instdc it. Then both (33) and (38) will be invalid for the current since one of the
functions & or & m (32) should be replaced by CFor +, respectively.
The expression for the current then acquires the form

lU = 2 dJx6(x2) Sp yWGR(x, x)x^G (x, x2) exp (I: A, dx,)

+ hermittan conjugation . (39)

Eq. (39) corresponds to fig. 11. If for GR we insert (26), then (39) becomes of the
gauge-invariant form

lw = 2 d,rfi(x) ert Sp Q&(x. x)sG (I, ~2)

+ hermitian conjugation, (40)

where
F = A, dx,. , (41)
Ic

where the contour C is gtvcn in fig. 11. The quantity F involves the &ltke part of
the strength of the field.

FIG. 1 I
 V.N. Grrhoc / Local confinement of charge 115

4. Vacuum current in the pure bremsstrahhmg field

The vacuum current in this case is determined completely by formula (40) with
GR = (1/2rr)%(x2) and G- = ( l/47r2& 1/x2). It can be written in the form

j, =-$
A 6((x, -xJ2)
d4Xfi(x*) sin F(x, x) Sp y*slx*& 9
I (x1 - xj2
(42)
cx t'X'
F=cx,jln,-aOIn~,
CX L-x

where x is the coordinate of the point, which is the intersection of the light cone
with the straight line connecting x, and x2:

* X x2 E2X4
x&l &A--E, --& 7 (43)
2&X @8(8X)

In the light-cone variables x = crz + Pn, dx = $(a - /3) da d/3 da. Carrying
out the integration on /3 and LY,we have

X:
F Sp y,;r;& (44)
(x,z,[(x,2)x; -(x,z,x:l

c 2 2 dJ(y, x)
L=j$ixIx2 ay,, l (45)

1
gsinF(f,z)T (46)
(yz 1
2
y&l = Xl&J2 -x*,x:, y* = E*X:X: ) (47)

C, =xI~x2+xIx211-~rr,~~x1x2~ * (48)

The integral J can be easily calculated at small y2 and is equal to

J=$sinF(i,y). (49)

It is also easy to check that

6,.Y2
Y,, -(x:-x:,
Ii,+ 2F,?(Xi -xf) I
(50)

and therefore

aJ 2~ Av(y) cos FE 1
--=sinF+T
ay,, Y Y yqx: - xf, A,:(i), (51)
_
A;(~)=A,,(~)-~(EA(~)). (52)
116 V h' Grrhot / Local confinemenr ofcharge
If we put (51) into (45), taking into account that x,A; = 0, &,,A; = 0, we obtain

1
(x1x2) 2(x?+ie2)
--
1
Ir = - A,(i) = - LA;,;);. (53)
&(xf -x:, E2(EX) EX ?T=

The current (53) is different from zero only if

2 2 12
x: =x2+:F2+Fx >O) x2=x l kii& - cx<o; i.e.-Fx<x2+be2<cx.

This means, that the first term in (53) has the character of 6(x2), because

1 2 (EX?
(x2+&*)dx2=0, 2 s*(~~+:~~)dx~=j 7 + const .
F (XC) E
(54)

The second term in (53) is proportional to 6(x). In the limit F+O the current
can be written in the form

7 S(x)+S(x) A;($. (55)

3

Taking mto account, that

_-
2 (&Xl2
--i-A,(~)G(x2)=~~,.il,[6(~)(es)A~(x~]-~(x~)A~-~(~~)~,,~~~,, ,
F- , 0

al;,,_
-0, (~x)A,(x)S(.x) = k&&) 9 (56)
&I,ax,,

we have

1
1
I!J = 2 $ ~~,F,,E,,F,,~+ :S(x)A;, . (57)

The first term in (57) depends on the direction of F,. Carrying out a relativistically
invariant averaging over the direction of F, when E,E,, = ~SI,v~2, this term is
proportional to a,.F,,,,,,,,,i.e. is equal to zero because we are calculating the current
outside the position of the external charges. Skipping this term, we obtain

(58)

A,=A,-w, (59)
IlX

where n IS the null-vector normal to the light cone at the point x. In order to get
(59) from (S2), one can write E in the form
 V.N Grtboc / Local confinement of charge 117

The second term in this expression gives zero because of the condition Ap, = 0,
while the third term turns to zero after averaging over the directions of E:. Hence
formula (52) leads to (59) and we obtain for the current the expression which was
discussed in the introduction.
Let us now consider the calculation of the S-like terms in the current, which are
different from zero at the points where the external charges are placed (vx = 0,
tx = 0). The expression for the integral J is not valid in the neighbourhood of
these points because of the following reasons. Carrying out the integration over
the azimuthal angle cp (46) introducing the variables u = vz/tz and cp, we obtain

y2(vc) tY u=tx3-
w=,,
y = (UY)(UY') Y vi

The parameter y is of the order of e* at ux and tx of the order of unity, and it

becomes a quantity of the order of E (or 1) if either tx or tx is of the order of E
(or E). The above-mentioned expression (49) for J is obtained in the zeroth-order
approximation in y. It is easy to calculate J for an arbitrary y. Doing this, one
finds that the longitudinal part of the current is strongly localized around the
positions of the external charges. The charge distribution is essentially different
from zero inside the region r < E. The integral value of this current contains even
divergences. Because of this we will calculate this current in a different manner to
make clear the source of these divergences.
For the sake of simplicity we assume that

x1.2&L = ~1.22, +Pl,2n,. (60)

Let us now return to the integration which was performed when we derived (46).
Multiplying (46) by

d I d$ s[x: -2&(x,2)]

and interchanging the integrations over (Yand f2, we get

1 X: a da dR
~C,J~ sin FS(p, --zz) ,
IP =%7 x:(P*-P2)3a I (al--a+S)3 I

a] -a
[=- PI 9 (61)
cY,a

At the choice of e according to (60) we have

sin F(i, I) = sin F(z, z) .

118 V N Grrho~ / Local confmernent of charge

If

(62)

Let us calculate J(pr, z) in the region of small u = az/tlz. The region of large
u(t.z -0) is calculated in the same fashion. Calculating the integral over QDwe get
J in the form

du sin (a. In (u/u))

J(p,z)=
I -
,r J4urt3,-~-1of
5 (63)

where we have neglected u and u m comparison with unity. Assummg that u = zu,
u = plx we get

dz sin (LY(,In z)
J(Pl,z)=J(.~)=-x J4z,~z_[X(I+X)_,1. (64)

It is easy to make sure that at X+E, J(X) is of the order l/x2 =p?/u*, i.e. is
actually equal to zero at finite u and 8, +O. As a result, J is non-zero only at
tz - &/(I, IpI < E and in this region it is of the order I/f 2, i.e. has the character of
S(r.z)fi(p) and equals

j, = z,cs(uz,s(p), (65)

where

(66)

The integral over d(cz) = dlc involved in (66) can easily be calculated by means of
(63) and equals

dzsin(cu,,Inz)(l+z)
J(p,z)du =PI
I I0 11 -zj3 .

This expression formally is equal to zero due to the antisymmetry at z --* l/z.
However, the expression is singular at z close to unity.
To separate the singularity it is sufficient to calculate mstead of (63)

dua,, In (u/u)
J,(P*, z) = J4 =cu,,Inib(l-.r). (67)
uu-(51 -u -u) .r
Hence

J(P,z) du = ~U~,PI, (68)

 V N Grrboc / Local confinement of charge 119

FIG 12

dPP1Pz
I (p1-p2)~= -iv (69)

and accordingly

(70)

The integral in (70) diverges in the lower and upper limits. The divergence at the
upper limit is accounted for by the fact that calculating it we have omitted 6 which
is of higher order with respect to E. The meaning of the divergence at the lower
limit has been discussed in the introduction and is associated with the instantaneous
character of the acceleration. The fact that the divergence must appear in both the
limits is clear from the following. If the acceleration occurs during a finite time r,
the particle trajectory in the plane (r, t) would have the form of the curve C given
in fig. 12. The irradiation field would have been between the cone r = t and the
curve C and would have reached its total value only in the region &r<(~<
(Y- J- 27. Hence instead of (70) we can write

I,(X) = -2 In f
0
i:(x). (71)

Thus, we have completed the derivation of the expressions for the vacuum current
in the bremsstrahlung field discussed in the introduction.

5. Vacuum current in perturbation theory

In this section we shall compare the obtained results with the calculation in
perturbation theory. As IS well known, the current in a given time-dependent field
is not determined by the Feynman technique since the integrals from --CO up to t
are not reduced to integrals from t up to +CO and consequently we cannot replace
the retarded Green functions by the Feynman functions.
In first order of perturbation theory the current is determined by the two diagrams
given in fig. 13. The expressions for the current corresponding to these diagrams
are of the form

j, =--I d4xSp (y,$z4x)&)&(x, -x)D (x2-x)+(x, +x2). (72)

I
120 V N Gnboc / Local confinemenl of charge

IA -IA

FIG 13

Calculating Sp and substituting DR and D_ we can write j,, as

1 d4x, S((x1 -xY2)

1,(x) = a,,. m A,(x)+(xi+xJ , (73)
(x2 - xj2 I

acl= aLa?+a:a;, - s,.(aa2)= 4!{a,a,- s,,.a*- 2a:a:+ 2s,,,a3,

(74)
x1=x+.5, x2=x-t-, a,=$,
u
a:=$.
Y

Eq. (73) is explrcitly singular with respect to E, (x2-x)* = 4[e3 - (EX -x)]. To get
rid of the singularity it is convenient to transform (73). Let us rewrite (73) in the form

A,(x +x+~)+A,(x +x--E)

I d4x6(x)
E*+EX E
2
-&x1 I .
(75)

Expanding A,(x fxf E1 and (1 f F/Ex) in powers of F, we can write the

expression in the brace as

A,.(x+x')+~~ Av(x+x)
+ :E,E,,~,a;d,a: +O(E7.
a,

0 P (76)
EX PX'

Integrating (76) by parts, we get

+x)
A,,(x
tX)+k pFt,aaA,(X+X)-&2F,,a;,
p cr FX 3.
(77)
Integrating the last term of (77) once more by parts, taking into account that
4S(x) = -a26(x2) and performing differentiation over E, we obtain

j, = -& I
d4x6((x -x))a&,(.r) ) (78)

or, otherwise,

I d4xS((x - x))~; (x) . (79)

 V.N. GnboL / Local confinement of charge
121

In terms of the cone variables (79) can be written in the form

~ - cs[(a
-(Y')(P
-P)-aazz] .i~(x) . (80)

Inserting (2) for I:, we get

The integral which enters (81) in equal to ~Y(P)/atlz, which leads to

(82)

It is essential in this integral, however, that, at, p = 0, uz f 0, (I = a/3/~ is equal

to zero. In other words, outside the points where the charges are placed, the vacuum
current calculated due to (79) is determined by the detailed behaviour of j: during
the time of acceleration. This is not surprising, since in the derivation of expression
(79) for the vacuum current we in fact supposed that the potential was of non-
singular character and expanded it in powers of e. After that, we applied (79) to
a singular potential. If the real field is different from zero in the region of the order
l/y around the cone, such a procedure of calculation with ~q <<1 corresponds to
the inclusion of the current contributions from all particles in the vacuum sea with
momenta from zero to l/e. However, no particles with momenta from q to l/r
can be produced in the real process corresponding to the diagrams of fig. 2.
Therefore, if we want to imitate the real process we have to use E larger than l/q
in order to calculate the contribution to the vacuum current only from the particles
with momenta less than q. In this approach we can take &functions for the field
(q + co) if E + 0. This is exactly the approach we used in the previous paragraph
where we got the result which does not depend on the details of the acceleration
process.

6. Structure of the self-consistent field

So far we have dealt with the vacuum current in a given external field. Let us
now define the field and the current from the self-consistent equation

a,F&,
= e:ljp + e:,iL , (83)

aJ;;,=o. (84)
We will suppose, that the vacuum current does not contain stronger singularities
than S(X). Let us write Fey in the form

Fey = (n,z, - nr,zcl)F + z&F,, - z,,FF, + n,F: - nJL + Ft,, , (85)

122 V N. Gnhoc / Local confinemew of charge

where z,,FF: = 0, n,FE = 0, F,, is transverse in both indices, FL,. = 0 due to the
axial symmetry of the problem.
The first Maxwell equation in the light-cone variables is of the form

&,n,Fp, + dpzyFwy + d;F,, = e$, . (86)

It follows from this equation that z,F*, = -z,F - F; can not contain S(p) because
the current does not contain S(p). It means that only F, contains 6(x2).
Hence, we can try to find self-consistent fields and currents in the form

8(P)
i, =---F J,, +i: , (87)
a

F,,, = &.fY - zf,,) ~ @)+

cx
F;"ti(P). (88)

If we insert these expressions into the Maxwell equations, we obtain

z,aif; -a&f, +a2F&V = ec?,J,, (89)

,x&f, -cY~F;=O (90)

on the cone and the Maxwell equations for FLY inside the cone are

i)&,, = e&L, a&,. = 0. (91)

If one denotes

f,:b,z)=aF,( 1 a, 2,P = 0)) cp(a,z) = aF(a, z, p = 0) (92)

Eqs. (89), (90) acquire the form

-2ai),f; = egJ,.I , (93)

d,,fy-cF = e:J , (94)

f: =dL, (95)

J. =O. (96)

Eq. (93) determines the dependence of the singular field on the cone f, upon the
time (a). Eqs. (94), (95) determine the quantities f,: and cp, i.e. boundary condttions
for the Maxwell equations inside the cone (91). Eq. (96) is the self-consistency
condition of the chosen structure of the field.
The quantittes f: and q are not actually independent. It follows from (91) that
on the cone

ffa,cp+a;f:
= eiajt . (97)

The quanttty 1: on the cone is expressed by J, thanks to current conservation

7 .,
--(y ]+ =aaJ_+n;J,,_. (98)
 V N Grrhoc/ Local confinement of charge 123

Therefore, current conservation is a self-consistency condition of the entire con-

struction. The pure bremsstrahlung field is obtained when j: = 0, Jb = 0, J = Jcxt,
hence, it follows that

a:f = f&JcX. (99)

Let us now discuss propertres of the quantities (26), (28), introduced above and
determining the vacuum current:

f(x) = 1; daA, (x)z, , (26)

(I ax:,
f?,(x)= - --JX)dX:,, xl =X,+((Y)-a)~,. (28)
I 4 ax,

The strength of the field (88) in terms of the discontinuous potential A, may be
written in the form

F,,.=(z,A,.-z~,)G(p)+F:,S(P). (100)

For F,,z,, not containing 6(p) one has to take

z,A, = 0 atP=O. (101)

Hence, at first glance it follows that f(x) = 0 at p + 0. Yet the integral may diverge
at (Y+ 0 and yield a timte f(x) independent of (Y, as occurs for the bremsstrahlung
field. Moreover, it is clear that at (Y+ 0 the field coincides with the bremsstrahlung
field and therefore f(x) is exactly of the previous form at p + 0:

f=cr,,lnz. (102)

The potential B, at p + 0 is expressed by f; and cp as follows:

(103)

The fact that the expression for the phase f(x) IS the same as for the bremsstrahlung
field (102) proves that in the self-consistent field of the form (88) at zero order
with respect to B, the current will contain no terms of the type S(p) while first
order contains additional smallness and therefore does not contam such terms either.

7. Vacuum current in the self-consistent field

The difference between the calculation of the vacuum current in the self-consistent
field and the calculation in the bremsstrahlung field lies in the fact that the Green
functions G, involved in (33) and (40) should be calculated not in the zeroth but
m the first order approximatron with respect to B,. As a result the current is
124 V N Grlboc / Local confinement of charge

FIG 14 FIG 15.

represented in the form of a sum of the current in the bremsstrahlung field jz and
current jz defined by the diagrams of fig. 14. Due to the fact that, as is seen from
the above, the phase in the integrals corresponding to these diagrams does not
depend on CY,the differences f(x)-f(x) and f(x)-f(xr) in these diagrams are
exactly cancelled in the case of fig. 14a, since they enter at the same z, and are
cancelled at any (Y,with the exception of the smallest (x-p in the case of fig. 14b
because at large a they also enter at the same z,. As it is shown by explicit
calculation, CY- p are not important and therefore the phase factors may be
replaced by unity. However, then the diagrams of fig. 14 become diagrams of the
conventional perturbation theory corresponding to fig. 15, since

2 d4x%(x)GR(x, x)x*G (x, x2) = G (x, x2),

I
(104)
4 d4x3(xrr2) d4xf%(x2)GR(xf, x)_?G_(x, x)X*GA(x2, x) = G (x, x2) .
I
The fact that the integration over x in the diagram of fig. 15 IS limited by the
condition x > 0 can be taken into account if instead of B,(x) the potential A, is
introduced:
_
A,(X)= B,(x)S(x) . (105)

Since we are mterested in first order with respect to B,(x) we can employ formula
(78) and write jz in the form

1
II)
/P =-3 d4x6((x -x)~)&&,(x) ,
67r I

~,=-2f:+z,[af,~1Y,Z~-~f;~O,Z~-r0l, (108)
in the notation of the preceding sections. Unlike eq. (89) for the perturbative
currents in the bremsstrahlung field, the singular part of (106) does not depend on
the behaviour of currents during the time of acceleration because the dangerous
part J,, [the second term in (108)] is equal to zero at CY= 0. To calculate the singular
vacuum current on the cone we have to calculate the singular part of jz coming
from the second term of (107).
 V.N Gnbov / Local confinement of charge 125

Substituting it into (106), we obtain

a da dR
=-- ei --S((a-a')p-aa'zz')_f,(a',z').
41)

I@.w 12n2 ap I (Y-& 477

(10%

Atp=O

a e&W) a da
411
I&L.s,ng
= -- z
ap 127r I I a(a -a)
&(a, z).

(110)

Summing this expression with the current in the bremsstrahlung field (56), (57),
(80), we get

J AA.1 =$2(f1(0,z)+ (111)

=J""' _ e
J_
is I a, 2) -da, z)l , (112)

where we have taken into account that a2 = f, (0, z).

Comparing (111) with (93), (95) and (112) with (99), we find that the current
on the cone satisfies the simple equations

I =f& 2) a0 a da
, 2-- Jw.,b, z),
Jw

(113)
6rr 3r a((Y -a)

a da
J_(a, z) = J -2 I a(a -a)
J (a, z). (114)

These equations are easily solved in the logarithmic approximation. Designating

6 = y. In (f/r)(t = J&X), y0 = a/37r,

a,J = -2J - 5 +J(r) . (115)

In the logarithmic approximation the second term on the right-hand side of (115)
equals ad(t).
Consequently,

(l+~)$J=-2J; (116)
hence,
J(O)
J(r) = ~ (117)
u+02

(118)

J =fd", 2) 1
(11%
c1. L
---i- 6~ (l+&)*
126 V N Gnho~/ Local confinement of charge

Accordingly, the singular field on the cone is

f =fAM
!.I (120)
l+t

These results have been discussed in the introduction.

The fields non-singular on the cone are

(121)

(122)

8. Currents and fields inside the cone

So far we have been interested only in the part of the vacuum current which is
singular on the cone. Let us now pass over to the discussion of currents inside the
cone. The possibility of calculating currents inside the cone depends on the
behaviour of the potentials A, inside the cone. If the vacuum current j: (87) inside
the cone is small, it is easy to calculate the potentials A: due to the current on
the cone according to the formula

SW)
A: = -&
I d4XDn((x -x)*) --;I-JMC.0
a
9

and then calculatmg currents in this field it is easy to find, by means of iterations,
1; and corrections to AZ. Yet, without doing this, it is also possible to obtain
information on the current inside the cone employing the current conservation law.
From the current conservation law (98) or, which is the same, from eq. (97), we
know x ~'j:=j+atp=O,

,=-[S(cz)-fi(v*)]_Iri
a
E 25
(l+& 7r
(124)

This expression is of first order in y. at 5 - 1 and should be valid not only at /3 = 0

but also at P/a CC1 since otherwise the current must have been singular close to
the cone and the self-consrstent solution would have become senseless.
As a result we arrive at the interesting conclusion that the vacuum current is
singular along the line connecting the created charges. Eq. (124) may be written
in the form

j: = - $d6(u2)-6(u*)1~ &. (125)

However, this current is not conserved. This can be improved, if corrections of the
 V N Gribov / Local confinement of charge 127

order of /3/a are included. An explicitly conserved expression coinciding with (125)
at p + 0 can be written in the form

j; = -z$3&L (126)
(1 + 5)

p2=-x2+2 4;;.

In the reference system where u and u are antiparallel, (126) differs from (125)
by the factor a2/(a -p)*; p2 is the distance from the observation point to the line
connecting the charges. The singular character of the current j: makes it impossible
to use perturbation theory for calculating it by means of the potential AZ, since
the corresponding integrals for j:(x) are determined by small times. To obtain the
current we should perform a calculation similar to the one for the current in the
bremsstrahlung field. This has not been done so far. If one accepts (126) on the
basis of current conservation then with (118) and (119) one has the following
expression for the vacuum current in first order in y. and P/a << 1:
,
6(x2) 1 S(p2) 25
j,=
(0,6(?Jx)-y+u+u) 7m-bolX--
ux I
nF
7T (1+[)3
(127)

This expression can be written in the form of a sum of two conserved currents:

j, =jl +jF,
(128)

(129)

The force lines of these currents are given in fig. 16. Thus j: is not involved in
the charge transfer between the outgoing particles and, essentially, the problem is
reduced to the fact that particles send their charges along the line connecting them.
The particles then remain neutral.
Let us now calculate the fields inside the cone. Calculating the potentials A,
according to a formula similar to (123) with the current (127) it is easy to come

FIG 16
128 V.N. Grrhvr / Lvcul cvnfinement of charge

to the following expression for the potenttals inside the cone:

P
& = y. In xz 5 = YO In !!, 50 = yoln -.
2Lxr ' 7 T

Accordingy, the strength of the field F,, equals

The expression is of the order of a? but singular both in x2 and p*.

The part singular m x2 can easily be written since it originates from

and is equal to

25, aft, rlf, 1 af: 1

I

-(p + v, c + t.) . (132)

At small p and not small CZ, tz we have

5, = 5L = 50

As a result FLy can be written in the form

X, C,, - x,x,
F::, = aoyu t'X
(133)

This expression at r + 0 has the character of S(p), since at T + 0 and p-fimte, & --, cc

and, consequently, m the hmtt r + 0

1
X&LC - X,.CU
F;:, = -2~ ---(/.I + C) 8(x) (135)
UX
 --------
V N GnboL: / Local confinemenl

i+t
of charge 129

1 le-&
4-r

coincides with the original bremsstrahlung

I ----

FIG
Te o

17
r

field. Yet, at fixed r the distribution

over p is essentially wider than the distribution of the original bremsstrahlung
FL:
P

field
FLY, the width of which is of the order of r. The distribution of both fields FLY
and F:; 7 is given in fig. 17. This distribution satisfies a remarkable sum rule stating
that the Integral value of the bremsstrahlung field at sufficiently large 5 does not
depend on the fact that the charge is really screened and is equal to the original
bremsstrahlung field. This fact completely contradicts the conventional understand-
ing of the zero charge due to which the vanishing of the charge is regarded as the
absence of interaction, i.e. the impossibility of photon formation.
Let us now discuss the part of FWy singular in p. The transverse parts Fuy have
weak smgularities in p. The most singular quantity is F = n,F,,.z,. According to
(13 1) the singular part F at small cz equals

F = 2cu0y0(ut) [t - 1
(tlx)(vx) (1 +&-, IT

yet at P/a << 1 the small value of y. is compensated and

dc(t- 1) 2 5
F-&8(,,) = -~a,$(t.z)--- (136)
CX- (I +5? a (1+5)*

In conclusion, let us point out the following interesting phenomenon. Despite

the fact that the strengths of the field at c + CCand /3 - r tend to zero, the potential
under these conditions does not tend to zero. It can be written in the form

5
A,, = -a,,z,[S(cz) - ~(cz)] - (137)
l+t

This is a pure gauge potential. The fact that the gauge potential singular m the
region where the screened initial charges are placed must necessarily be retained
at t --*00 is clear from the followmg. At t < 0 we have a vacuum, i.e. all the levels
with negative energies are occupied. At f + + CY)we have a state where the negative
charge goes in one direction and the positive in the other direction and they are
localized at the points where our initial particles are positioned which themselves
are not included in the system but represent the external field. This means that the
 130 V.N. Grrboc / Local confinement of charge

external field (the field of the initial charges) affects the density of levels at the
points where the initial charges are positioned and therefore the appearance of
screening charges is not surprising. The paradox lies in the fact that there exists
no field affecting the density of levels at t + CO, since the self-consistent field, as a
result of screening, tends to zero and, consequently, there is nothing that could
change the density of levels. The key to the paradox is that in the process of charge
screening there should always be a gauge potential which formally is responsible
for the density variation of levels. In other words, in the process of complete charge
screening the vacuum must transit into a new state with a gauge field and a different
number of particles (at the same charge). This is analogous to what is observed at
instanton transitions.

9. Analogy with the one-dimensional case

In this section we shall discuss the process of formation of two massless charges
in one-dimensional Schwinger electrodynamics. This may be interesting since we
know the fate of massless charges in the model -they become neutral mesons.
The problem of formation of two massless charges in the one-dimensional case
has been studied in a very interesting paper by Kogut, Casher and Susskind [2].
Yet, while interpreting what takes place at the formation of two massless charges,
they believe that the formulae derived by them correspond to the process of creation
of the neutral mesons. However, in fact their formulae describe charge screening
very similar to that which we have investigated above. As has been shown by
Schwinger, the vacuum current in an arbitrary external field in the transverse gauge
is of a very simple form:

C(x)= -LAJx),
7T
(138)

and the equation of the self-consistent field is

The current of massless charge formation is

jc = V,S(X -t) - r_JL6(x+ t) . (140)

The solution of eq. (139) obtained in [3] at t + 00 and at the correct initial
conditions is

A,(x)= ~[v,s(x-1)-~:s(x+t)], (141)

i.e. corresponds to the gauge potential &A, = 0,FFy= 0 and the local current. The
difference from the three-dimensional case is that this asymptotics is reached not
logarithmically in time but as a function of e& since the charge is dimensional.
 V.N Gnboc / Local confinement of charge 131

Thus, at the formation of two massless charges there appear two massless neutral
classical packets and the fact that the physical state has a mass is accounted for by
the fact that the interaction of this state with vacuum oscillations makes it massive.

In conclusion I would like to express by deep gratitude to G.S. Danilov, I.G.

Dyatlov, D.I. Diakonov, V.Yu. Petrov, L.V. Gribov, Yu.L. Dokshitzer, Ya.1.
Azimov, L.B. Okun, A. Vainshtein, Ya.A. Smorodinsky, J. Nyiri and F. Nieder-
mayer for interesting and useful discussions.

References

[l] L.D. Landau, I Ya Pomeranchuk

[2] A Casher, J Kogut and L Susskmd, Phys Rev DIO (1974) 732