  The $S$-matrix pinch technique is used to derive an effective gluon
self-energy to one-loop order, when the theory is quantized in the Coulomb
gauge (CG) and in the temporal axial gauge (TAG). When the pinch contributions
are added, the gluon self-energies calculated in CG and TAG turn out to be
identical and coincide with the result previously obtained with covariant
gauges. The issue of gauge independence of several quantities in hot QCD is
discussed from the pinch technique point of view. It is also pointed out that
the spurious singularities which appear in TAG calculations cancel out once the
pinch contributions are combined.

High Energy Physics - Phenomenology