COULOMB'S LAW CORRECTIONS FROM A GAUGE-KINETIC MIXING

Abstract

We study the connection or equivalence between two well-known extensions of the Standard Model, that is, for the coupling between the familiar massless electromagnetism U (1) QED and a hidden-sector U (1)h, and axionic electrodynamics. Our discussion is carried out using the gauge-invariant but path-dependent variables formalism, which is an alternative to the Wilson loop approach. When we compute in this way the static quantum potential for the coupling between the familiar massless electromagnetism U (1) QED and a hidden-sector U (1)h, the result of this calculation is a Yukawa correction to the usual static Coulomb potential. Previously,14, we have shown that axionic electrodynamics has a different structure which is reflected in a confining piece. Therefore, both extensions of the Standard Model are not equivalent. Interestingly, when the above calculation is done inside a superconducting box, the Coulombic piece disappears leading to a screening phase.