No-go theorem for the classical Maxwell-Lorentz electrodynamics in odd-dimensional worlds
classification
✦ hep-th
physics.class-ph
keywords
classicalchargeelectrodynamicsodd-dimensionalthenworldsactionaddition
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If the conventional Maxwell--Lorentz formulation of classical electrodynamics is adopted in a flat spacetime of arbitrary odd dimension, then the retarded vector potential $A^\mu$ generated by a point charge turns out to be pure gauge, $A^\mu=\partial^\mu\chi$. By Gauss' law, the charge shows up as zero. The classical electromagnetic coupling is thus missing from odd-dimensional worlds. If the action is augmented by the addition of the Chern--Simons term, then the classical interaction picture in the three-dimensional world becomes nontrivial.
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