On the Quantization of Abelian Gauge Field Theories on Riemann Surfaces

Abstract

In this paper general abelian gauge field theories interacting with matter fields are quantized on a closed and orientable Riemann surface $\Sigma$. The approach used is that of small perturbations around topologically nontrivial classical solutions $A^I_\mu$ of the Maxwell equations. The propagator of the gauge fields and the form of the fields $A^I_\mu$ are explicitly computed in the Feynman gauge. Despite of the fact that the quantization procedure presented here is mainly perturbative, in the case of the Schwinger model, or two dimensional quantum electrodynamics, it is also possible to derive nonperturbative results. As an example, we show that, at very short distances, the electromagnetic forces on a Riemann surface vanish up to zero modes.