On the peculiarity of the Coulomb gauge

Abstract

In an earlier paper we provided an alternative to the standard gauge concept for deriving the classical electromagnetic wave equations. This alternative involves recognition of two previously overlooked basic equations and represents a simplification of the formalism and a clarification of some basic physics that is obscured in the standard method. It also removes inconsistencies inherent in the gauge approach. The present paper relates to the Coulomb gauge and addresses another example of a major inconsistency that derives directly from the gauge concept