Current Operators in Quantum Field Theory and Sum Rules in Deep Inelastic Scattering

Abstract

It is shown that in the general case the canonical construction of the current operators in quantum field theory does not render a bona fide vector field since Lorentz invariance is violated by Schwinger terms. We argue that the nonexistence of the canonical current operators for spinor fields follows from a very simple algebraic consideration. As a result, the well-known sum rules in deep inelastic scattering are not substantiated.