For over six decades, quantum electrodynamics (QED) in multipolar form has been an invaluable tool for understanding quantum-scale atomic and molecular interactions. However, its relation to the Poincaré gauge has been a recent topic of controversy and debate. It was claimed by Rousseau and Felbacq in [Sci. Rep. 7, 11115 (2017)] that Hamiltonian multipolar QED is not the same as Poincaré-gauge QED and that it is not generally equivalent to Coulomb-gauge QED. This claim has subsequently been refuted, but since both sides of the debate appear technically sound, a clear reconciliation remains to be given. This task is of paramount importance due to the widespread use of multipolar QED in quantum optics and atomic physics. Here, unlike in other responses, we adopt the same method as Rousseau and Felbacq of using Dirac's constrained quantization procedure. However, our treatment shows that Poincaré-gauge and multipolar QED are identical. We identify the precise source of the apparent incompatibility of previous results as nothing more than a semantic mismatch. In fact there are no inconsistencies. Our results firmly and rigorously solidify the multipolar theory.

• Received 22 June 2021
• Accepted 13 September 2021

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.104.032227