Vacuum polarization of scalar electrodynamics in flat space－time with nontrivial topology

The one-loop vacuum polarization is calculated for scalar electrodynamics in a flat space－time with the topology S¹×R³. The effect of vacuum polarization upon photon propagation is considered. It is found that photon propagation becomes anisotropic with some photon modes acquiring a positive topological mass and thus travelling at a subluminal speed.