Improved Faddeev-Jackiw quantization of the electromagnetic field and Lagrange multiplier fields

Abstract

We use the improved Faddeev-Jackiw quantization method to quantize the electromagnetic field and its Lagrange multiplier fields. The method's comparison with the usual Faddeev-Jackiw method and the Dirac method is given. We show that this method is equivalent to the Dirac method and also retains all the merits of the usual Faddeev-Jackiw method. Moreover, it is simpler than the usual one if one needs to obtain new secondary constraints. Therefore, the improved Faddeev-Jackiw method is essential. Meanwhile, we find the new meaning of the Lagrange multipliers and explain the Faddeev-Jackiw generalized brackets concerning the Lagrange multipliers.