We derive an alternative representation of the leading-order contribution to the polarization operator in strong-field quantum electrodynamics with a plane-wave electromagnetic background field, which is manifestly symmetric with respect to the external photon momenta. Our derivation is based on a direct evaluation of the corresponding Feynman diagram, using the Volkov representation of the dressed fermion propagator. Furthermore, the validity of the Ward-Takahashi identity is shown for general loop diagrams in an external plane-wave background field.

• Received 29 April 2013

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.88.013007