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Geometric Foundations of Classical Yang-Mills Theory

Catren, Gabriel (2008) Geometric Foundations of Classical Yang-Mills Theory. [Preprint]

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    Abstract

    We analyze the geometric foundations of classical Yang-Mills theory by studying the relationships between internal relativity, locality, global/local invariance, and background independence. We argue that internal relativity and background independence are the two independent defining principles of Yang-Mills theory. We show that local gauge invariance -heuristically implemented by means of the gauge argument- is a direct consequence of internal relativity. Finally, we analyze the conceptual meaning of BRST symmetry in terms of the invariance of the gauge fixed theory under general local gauge transformations.

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    Item Type: Preprint
    Additional Information: Published in Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 39 (2008) 511–531.
    Keywords: Yang-Mills Theory, Gauge Theories, BRST Symmetry
    Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics > Symmetries/Invariances
    Depositing User: Dr. Gabriel Catren
    Date Deposited: 04 Nov 2008
    Last Modified: 07 Oct 2010 11:17
    Item ID: 4296
    URI: http://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/4296

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