Covariance of a field equation does not fix homogeneous solutions

ID: covariance-of-a-field-equation-does-not-fix-homogeneous-solutions

If a differential operator is a linear map and has nonzero kernel of a linear map, the equation determines only up to a homogeneous solution. Lorentz covariance of and therefore does not force independently selected solutions in different inertial frames to obey a particular tensor transformation law. A covariant Green function and consistently transformed homogeneous data do provide such a choice. For the four-potential in Lorenz gauge, still permits with , a residual Lorenz gauge symmetry. Constant spatial potentials for zero sources are a concrete example.

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