Anyons, spin, and statistics in (2+1)-dimensional U(1)-scalar Chern-Simons gauge field theory

We present a detailed analysis of the quantum field theory of a Chern-Simons field coupled minimally to massive charged bosonic matter. This analysis is carried out in the Coulomb and covariant gauges. Some aspects concerning the transformation law of the fields under Poincare transformations are clarified. Emphasis is placed on gauge-invariant operators. The order and disorder operators are constructed from their dual algebra. The order operator is shown to obey anyonic statistics. The correlator of the disorder operator is computed in the large boson-mass limit, and the corresponding cluster properties are discussed. In the absence of a symmetry-breaking Higgs potential, there is no evidence for the ground state being anyonic