Structural aspects of two-dimensional anomalous gauge theories (Q1290407)

As the literature on two-dimensional \(U(1)\) gauge theories, especially on the generalized chiral Schwinger model of a massless fermion, is full of contradictory conclusions, the authors undertook to reexamine the Hilbert space structure. They point out once more -- repeating arguments from the work by \textit{G. Morchio}, \textit{D. Pierotti} and \textit{F. Frocchi} [J. Math. Phys. 31, No. 6, 1467-1477 (1990; Zbl 0712.46044)] -- that the bosonization technique of the operator approach leads to a redundant description, i.e., gives a field algebra, too large for the Wightman construction of states. As the authors emphasize, the Hilbert space of physical states can only be obtained by first identifying the correct intrinsic field algebra. But then the Jackiw-Rajaraman parameter looses most of its physical meaning and the alleged screening of the electric charge can no longer be justified. As concerns the physical content of the model, the gauge-invariant formulation given by the authors is shown to be equivalent to the existing noninvariant formulations.