Quantum electrodynamics of charged boson fields with a spontaneously broken symmetry

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Abstract
We describe the canonical formulation of the theory of a charged scalar field with a spontaneously broken symmetry, interacting with the electromagnetic field. The formulation is carried out in the Lorentz gauge, and the effect of the spontaneous symmetry breaking on the subsidiary condition is studied. The spectrum of states includes four massive observable modes: two that are transversely polarized and stem from the elementary excitations of the electromagnetic field, and two that originate from the excitations of the charged scalar field. There are also two zero-norm photon "ghost" modes which carry neither probability amplitude nor energy, and which do not in any way affect the dynamical behavior of the observable particles.