Four-current 2026-10-06
The four-current combines charge density and current density into the four-vector . With , its four-divergence vanishes by the charge continuity equation: . It is the source in the covariant Maxwell equations.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2014 iii Paper 40 1 ii Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
Take the four-divergence of the Proca equation. Commuting partial derivatives and using that is an antisymmetric second-rank tensor giveConsequently, for , . This is the Lorenz constraint in Proca theory: an equation of motion enforces it, rather than a choice of gauge fixing. It leaves . At the divergence argument supplies no such constraint; the massless gauge symmetry requires a separate treatment.