On the electromagnetic interaction and the anomalous term in the Duffin-Kemmer-Petiau theory

Abstract

Abstract The problem of vectorial mesons embedded in an electromagnetic field via Duffin-Kemmer-Petiau (DKP) formalism is reinvestigated. Considering the electromagnetic interaction as a minimal coupling, an incorrect value is identified for the gyromagnetic factor (g-factor). Furthermore, it is shown that it is cumbersome to find analytical solutions due to the presence of the so-called anomalous term for the spin-1 sector of the DKP theory. Suspecting that the anomalous term results from an incomplete version of the DKP equation to describe the electromagnetic interaction, we consider the addition of a non-minimal coupling. This leads to the correct g-factor and, as a consequence, the anomalous term becomes proportional to an external four current. As an application, the DKP equation with a static uniform magnetic field is considered, yielding the corresponding Landau levels.