3/21/2015 quantum mechanics - The gauge-invariance of the probability current - Physics Stack Exchange

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The gauge-invariance of the probability current

It is simple to show that under the gauge transformation

A
A +



t




exp
(
iq

The Schrodinger equation

iqA

2

+ q = i

2m ( ) t

gives back the same equation.

How does it follow that the probability current is gauge invariant?

quantum-mechanics homework-and-exercises electromagnetism schroedinger-equation gauge-invariance

edited May 7 '13 at 20:38 asked May 7 '13 at 19:54

Qmechanic elizavetta
43.6k 6 60 136 11 1

Calculate the probability current, the result will depend on the vector potential, but the combination is gauge-
invariant. Hydro Guy May 7 '13 at 22:27

1 Answer

Note that the probability current in the presence of a EM field is given by

1
http://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/63706/the-gauge-invariance-of-the-probability-current 1/2
( )
3/21/2015 quantum mechanics - The gauge-invariance of the probability current - Physics Stack Exchange

j =
2m
1
(
p p 2qA )

As you note a local phase shift

= e

iq (r,t)/

leads to a gauge transformation of the vector potential

A

= A +
Substituting these into the expression for the probability current gives

j

=
1

2m
(e

iq (r,t)/
pe

iq (r,t)/
e

iq (r,t)/
pe

iq (r,t)/
2qAe

iq (r,t)/
e

iq (r,t)/

2q (r, t)e

iq (r,t)/
e

iq (r,t)/
)

Operating with p i one obtains

j

=
1

2m (
(i) + iq

(i) (r, t) (i) (

iq

)
(i) (r, t)

2qA 2q (r, t) )

Sorting it out one obtains

j

=
1

2m
(
p p 2qA ) = j

thus the probability current is gauge invariant.

answered Jun 29 '13 at 22:45

mgphys
919 3 11

Great prove ! +1 xslittlegrass Mar 6 '14 at 3:39

http://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/63706/the-gauge-invariance-of-the-probability-current 2/2