Ward identity for QED renormalization constants Created 2026-10-14 Updated 2026-11-05
In a gauge-preserving regularization and consistent renormalization convention, the proper-vertex Ward-Takahashi identity in QED equates the vertex and electron wave-function renormalization constants. With and , the vertex coefficient gives , proving the displayed charge relation in . Gauge invariance restricts counterterms but does not forbid charge running.