Equivalence of light-front and covariant field theory

Abstract

In this paper we discuss the relation between the standard covariant quantum field theory and light-front field theory. We define covariant theory by its Feynman diagrams, whereas light-front field theory is defined in terms of light-cone time-ordered diagrams. A general algorithm is proposed that produces the latter from any Feynman diagram. The procedure is illustrated in several cases. Technical problems that occur in the light-front formulation and have no counterpart in the covariant formulation are identified and solved. The problem of renormalization is not discussed in this paper.