| Abstract: | This paper presents a new non-associative algebra which is used to (i) show how the spectator (or Gross) two-body equations and electromagnetic currents can be formally derived from the Bethe-Salpeter equation and currents if both are treated to all orders, (ii) obtain explicit expressions for the Gross two-body electromagnetic currents valid to any order, and (iii) prove that the currents so derived are exactly gauge invariant when truncated consistently to any finite order. In addition to presenting these new results, this work complements and extends previous treatments based largely on the analysis of sums of Feynman diagrams. |
