In the first-quantised worldline approach to quantum field theory, a longstanding problem has been to extend this formalism to amplitudes involving open fermion lines while maintaining the efficiency of the well-tested closed-loop case. In the present series of papers, we develop a suitable formalism for the case of quantum electrodynamics in vacuum (part one and two) and in a constant external electromagnetic field (part three), based on second-order fermions and the symbol map. We derive this formalism from standard field theory, but also give an alternative derivation intrinsic to the worldline theory. In this first part, we use it to obtain a Bern-Kosower type master formula for the fermion propagator, dressed with N photons, in terms of the "N -photon kernel," where offshell this kernel appears also in "subleading" terms involving only N − 1 of the N photons. Although the parameter integrals generated by the master formula are equivalent to the usual Feynman diagrams, they are quite different since the use of the inverse symbol map avoids the appearance of long products of Dirac matrices. As a test we use the N = 2 case for a recalculation of the one-loop fermion self energy, in D dimensions and arbitrary covariant gauge, reproducing the known result. We find that significant simplification can be achieved in this calculation by choosing an unusual momentum-dependent gauge parameter.

We propose a general method for the description of arbitrary single spin-j states transforming according to (j, 0) ⊕ (0, j) carrier spaces of the Lorentz algebra in terms of Lorentz-tensors for bosons, and tensorspinors for fermions, and by means of second order Lagrangians. The method allows to avoid the cumbersome matrix calculus and higher ∂ 2j order wave equations inherent to the Weinberg-Joos approach. We start with reducible Lorentz-tensor (tensor-spinor) representation spaces hosting one sole (j, 0)⊕(0, j) irreducible sector and design there a representation reduction algorithm based on one of the Casimir invariants of the Lorentz algebra. This algorithm allows us to separate neatly the pure spin-j sector of interest from the rest, while preserving the separate Lorentz-and Dirac indexes. However, the Lorentz invariants are momentum independent and do not provide wave equations. Genuine wave equations are obtained by conditioning the Lorentztensors under consideration to satisfy the Klein-Gordon equation. In so doing, one always ends up with wave equations and associated Lagrangians that are second order in the momenta. Specifically, a spin-3/2 particle transforming as (3/2, 0)⊕(0, 3/2) is comfortably described by a second order Lagrangian in the basis of the totally antisymmetric Lorentz tensor-spinor of second rank, Ψ [µν] . Moreover, the particle is shown to propagate causally within an electromagnetic background. In our study of (3/2, 0) ⊕ (0, 3/2) as part of Ψ [µν] we reproduce the electromagnetic multipole moments known from the Weinberg-Joos theory. We also find a Compton differential cross section that satisfies unitarity in forward direction. The suggested tensor calculus presents 1 itself very computer friendly with respect to the symbolic software FeynCalc.

In the first part of this series, we employed the second-order formalism and the “symbol” map to construct a particle path-integral representation of the electron propagator in a background electromagnetic field, suitable for open fermion-line calculations. Its main advantages are the avoidance of long products of Dirac matrices, and its ability to unify whole sets of Feynman diagrams related by permutation of photon legs along the fermion lines. We obtained a Bern-Kosower type master formula for the fermion propagator, dressed with N photons, in terms of the “N-photon kernel,” where this kernel appears also in “subleading” terms involving only N − 1 of the N photons.In this sequel, we focus on the application of the formalism to the calculation of on-shell amplitudes and cross sections. Universal formulas are obtained for the fully polarised matrix elements of the fermion propagator dressed with an arbitrary number of photons, as well as for the corresponding spin-averaged cross sections. A major simplification of the on-shell case is that the subleading terms drop out, but we also pinpoint other, less obvious simplifications.We use integration by parts to achieve manifest transversality of these amplitudes at the integrand level and exploit this property using the spinor helicity technique. We give a simple proof of the vanishing of the matrix element for “all +” photon helicities in the massless case, and find a novel relation between the scalar and spinor spin-averaged cross sections in the massive case. Testing the formalism on the standard linear Compton scattering process, we find that it reproduces the known results with remarkable efficiency. Further applications and generalisations are pointed out.

A boson of spin-j ≥ 1 can be described in one of the possibilities within the Bargmann-Wigner framework by means of one sole differential equation of order twice the spin, which however is known to be inconsistent as it allows for non-local, ghost and acausally propagating solutions, all problems which are difficult to tackle. The other possibility is provided by the Fierz-Pauli framework which is based on the more comfortable to deal with second order Klein-Gordon equation, but it needs to be supplemented by an auxiliary condition. Although the latter formalism avoids some of the pathologies of the high-order equations, it still remains plagued by some inconsistencies such as the acausal propagation of the wave fronts of the (classical) solutions within an electromagnetic environment. We here suggest a method alternative to the above two that combines their advantages while avoiding the related difficulties. Namely, we suggest one sole strictly D (j,0)⊕(0,j) representation specific second order differential equation, which is derivable from a Lagrangian and whose solutions do not violate causality. The equation under discussion presents itself as the product of the Klein-Gordon operator with a momentum independent projector on Lorentz irreducible representation spaces constructed from one of the Casimir invariants of the spin-Lorentz group. The basis used is that of general tensor-spinors of rank-2j.

The gauged Klein–Gordon equation, extended by a gsσμνFμν/4 interaction, the contraction of the electromagnetic field strength tensor, Fμν, with the generators, σμν/2, of the Lorentz group in (1/2, 0) ⊕ (0, 1/2), and gs being the gyromagnetic factor, is examined with the aim to find out as to what extent it qualifies as a wave equation for general relativistic spin-1/2 particles transforming as (1/2, 0) ⊕ (0, 1/2) and possibly distinct from the Dirac fermions. This equation can be viewed as the generalization of the gs = 2 case, known under the name of the Feynman–Gell-Mann equation, the only one which allows for a bilinearization into the gauged Dirac equation and its conjugate. At the same time, it is well-known a fact that a gs = 2 value can also be obtained upon the bilinearization of the nonrelativistic Schrödinger into nonrelativistic Pauli equations. The inevitable conclusion is that it must not be necessarily relativity which fixes the gyromagnetic factor of the electron to g(1/2) = 2, but rather the specific form of the primordial quadratic wave equation obeyed by it, that is amenable to a linearization. The fact is that space-time symmetries alone define solely the kinematic properties of the particles and neither fix the values of their interacting constants, nor do they necessarily prescribe linear Lagrangians. Information on such properties has to be obtained from additional physical inputs involving the dynamics. We here provide an example in support of the latter statement. Our case is that the spin-1/2- fermion residing within the four-vector spinor triad, ψμ ~ (1/2+-1/2--3/2-), whose sectors at the free particle level are interconnected by spin-up and spin-down ladder operators, does not allow for a description within a linear framework at the interacting level. Upon gauging, despite transforming according to the irreducible (1/2, 1) ⊕ (1, 1/2) building block of ψμ, and being described by 16-dimensional four-vector spinors, though of only four independent components each, its Compton scattering cross sections, both differential and total, result equivalent to those for a spin-1/2 particle described by the generalized Feynman–Gell-Mann equation from above (for which we provide an independent algebraic motivation) and with g(1/2-) = -2/3. In effect, the spin-1/2- particle residing within the four-vector spinor effectively behaves as a true relativistic "quadratic" fermion. The g(1/2-) = -2/3 value ensures in addition the desired unitarity in the ultraviolet. In contrast, the spin-1/2+ particle, in transforming irreducibly in the (1/2, 0) ⊕ (0, 1/2) sector of ψμ, is shown to behave as a truly linear Dirac fermion. Within the framework employed, the three spin sectors of ψμ are described on equal footing by representation- and spin-specific wave equations and associated Lagrangians which are of second-order in the momenta.