Perturbative and non-perturbative aspects of QED_{3}

Abstract

In this work we review various findings in the planar quantum physics with the special emphasis on the two-component quantum electrodynamics in three-dimensional spacetime (QED_{3}) with the Chern-Simons (CS) term. First the classical electrodynamics is briefly outlined. Then we construct and classify the unitary irreducible representations of the Poincare group and connect them to various covariant fields. Subtleties with discrete symmetries arising in QED_{3} are also discussed. Quantization of the free gauge field with and without the CS term is performed in Coulomb gauge. Subsequently we discuss the ultraviolet behavior of the theory in perturbative regime and perform some one-loop calculations. The induced CS term is examined using the effective action formalism. The non-relativistic electron-electron interactions are considered in the Maxwell-Chern-Simons theory and the possibility of bound states is briefly discussed. We also examine the non-relativistic scattering of two anyons in the pure CS theory to one-loop order.