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Gauge-invariance of the Maxwell Lagrangian in Srednicki's book

Physics Asked on April 16, 2021

When it comes to the demonstration of the gauge-invariance of the Lagrangian of the Maxwell-theory Srednicki’s book proceeds as follows:

$${cal L} = -frac{1}{4}F^{munu}F_{munu} + J^mu A_{mu} tag{54.21}$$

I am interested in the second term $J^mu A_mu$. Under a gauge transformation the 4-vector potential transforms as $A’_mu =A_{mu} – partial_mu Gamma$ In order to show gauge invariance one has to show that

$$J^mu ( A’_{mu} – A_{mu}) = -J^mu partial_mu Gamma = (partial_mu J^mu)Gamma -partial_mu(J^mu Gamma)$$

can be "neglected".
The argumentation of Srednicki is that the second term can be neglected since upon considering the action the corresponding integral over $d^4x$ vanishes and the first term disappears because of current conversation. The latter, however, would mean that the Lagrangian is only gauge-invariant for the $A_mu$-field configuration that fulfills the Maxwell-equations, otherwise the current would be not conserved. Is the Maxwell-Lagrangian (54.21), in particular the coupling term, gauge-invariant for all field configuration or only for the special one that fulfills the field-equations?

In particular in view of the comments given to the post
Is the Dirac Lagrangian locally gauge invariant without gauge field $A$? I am confused.

EDIT
Actually, I don’t know if a background current would automatically fulfill the equation $partial_mu J^mu=0$, but at least if the Maxwell-equations are fulfilled, i.e. $partial_nu F^{munu} = J^mu$ by taking a second derivative we get: $0=partial_mupartial_nu F^{munu}= partial_mu J^{mu}$. So from this perspective the current conservation seems to a result of the Maxwell-equations. And this is what Srednicki mentions the page that just precedes that of expression (54.21). That suggests strongly that the current conservation only is valid if the Maxwell-equations are fulfilled.

2 Answers

Instead of

the current conservation only is valid if the Maxwell-equations are fulfilled,

the logic sould be the other way around, like this:

the Maxwell-equations are fulfilled only if the current conservation is valid.

Gauge-invariance does not depend on the behavior of $A$. It only depends on the behavior of $J$. The behavior of $J$ is constrained by consistency with $A$'s equation of motion, and as long as $J$ satisfies that consistency condition, the Lagrangian is gauge-invariant whether or not $A$ satisfies the equation of motion.

Correct answer by Chiral Anomaly on April 16, 2021

For what it's worth, the off-shell Maxwell action (54.21) is gauge invariant if the background sources $J^{mu}$ satisfy the continuity equation.

OP's question seems to be spurred by the ambiguity coming from the fact that one should specify which fields (among the gauge fields and matter fields) are treated quantum mechanically (off-shell) and which fields are treated as a classical (on-shell) background.

Answered by Qmechanic on April 16, 2021

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