The Schwinger Model and the Physical Projector: a Nonperturbative Quantization without Gauge Fixing

Based on the physical projector approach, a nonpertubative quantization of the massless Schwinger model is considered which does not require any gauge fixing. The spectrum of physical states, readily identified following a diagonalization of the operator algebra, is that of a massive pseudoscalar field, namely the electric field having acquired a mass proportional to the gauge coupling constant. The physical spectrum need not be identified with confined bound fermion-antifermion pairs, an interpretation which one is otherwise led to given whatever gauge fixing procedure but which is not void of gauge fixing artefacts. To be published in the Proceedings of the Second International Workshop on Contemporary Problems in Mathematical Physics, Institut de Mathématiques et de Sciences Physiques (IMSP), Université d’Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Republic of Benin October 28st November 2th, 2001