Past exam of the theoretical physics II course of the University of Cambridge / 2016 / Paper 1 / 4 / b / Solution

Work in temporal gauge, with zero scalar potential, and use the charge sign exactly as in the given covariant spatial derivative. A spatially uniform vector potential acts on a Fourier mode asThere are no spatial derivatives of $\mathbf{A}$. Substitution into the field equation and multiplication by $c^2$ therefore givesThe canonical wavevector $\mathbf{k}$ is conserved by spatial translation symmetry; the kinetic momentum is $\hslash \mathbf{k}-e\mathbf{A}(t)$. The absence of a term involving $\dot{\mathbf{A}}$ in this mode equation follows from temporal gauge and the spatial minimal-coupling operator. The electric field still affects evolution through the changing oscillator frequency.