The Euler-Heisenberg action for a $U(1)\times U(1)$ dyon quantum electrodynamics

Abstract

The one-loop effective Lagrangian of quantum electrodynamics for dyons (dQED) with a $U(1) \times U(1)$ gauge symmetry is derived using the Schwinger proper-time method. We identify the analog of the Schwinger pair-production limit and compute the corresponding nonlinear equations of motion. The electromagnetic response of the model is analyzed by linearizing the equations of motion around a purely magnetic background. From the resulting plane-wave solutions, we obtain the effective permittivity and permeability tensors, along with the associated dispersion relations and refractive indices for parallel and perpendicular polarization modes. The refractive indices involve hybrid superpositions of both gauge sectors, as illustrated in the symmetric case $q_{(1)} = q_{(2)}$. In this background, the model exhibits vacuum birefringence, indicating that the quantum vacuum behaves as an anisotropic medium. All results consistently reduce to the standard Euler-Heisenberg predictions of QED when the magnetic charge vanishes.