Manifestly gauge invariant exact renormalization group for quantum electrodynamics

Abstract: We formulate quantum electrodynamics on the basis of gauge (or BRST) covariant diffusion equations of fields. This is a particular example of the gradient flow exact renormalization group (GFERG). The resulting Wilson action fulfills a simple gauge Ward--Takahashi identity. We solve the GFERG equation around the Gaussian fixed point to the second order in gauge coupling and obtain the 1-loop beta function and anomalous dimensions. The anomalous dimension of the electron field coincides with that of the fermion field diffused by a gauge covariant flow equation of L\"uscher.