QED renormalization given in a mass-dependent subtraction and the renormalization group approach

The QED renormalization is restudied by using a mass-dependent subtraction which is performed at a time-like renormalization point. The subtraction ex actly respects necessary physical and mathematical requirements such as the gauge symmetry, the Lorentz invariance and the mathematical convergence. T herefore, the renormalized results derived in the subtraction scheme are fa ithful and have no ambiguity. In particular, it is proved that the solution of the renormalization group equation (RGE) satisfied by a renormalized wa vefunction, propagator or vertex can be fixed by applying the renormalizati on boundary condition and, thus, an exact S-matrix element can be expressed in the form as written in the tree diagram approximation provided that the coupling constant and the fermion mass are replaced by their effective one s. In the one-loop approximation, the effective coupling constant and the e ffective fermion mass obtained by solving their RGEs are given in rigorous and explicit expressions which are suitable in the whole range of distance and exhibit physically reasonable asymptotic behaviours.