HIGHER-DERIVATIVE SCHWINGER MODEL

Using the operator formalism, we obtain the bosonic representation for the free fermion field satisfying an equation of motion with higher-o rder derivatives. Then, we consider the operator solution of a general ized Schwinger model with higher-derivative coupling. Since the increa sing of the derivative order implies the introduction of an equivalent number of extra fermionic degrees of freedom, the mass acquired by th e gauge field is bigger than the one for the standard two-dimensional QED. An analysis of the problem from the functional integration point of view corroborates the findings of canonical quantization, and corre cts certain results previously announced in the literature on the basi s of Fujikawa's technique.