Measuring Electric & Magnetic Fields: Uncovering the Mystery of Gauge Potential

[Lapidus]

In electrodynamics, the gauge potentials are not directly measureable, but components of the field strength tensors, which are the electric and magnetic fields are.

But why are the electric and magnetic fields, the components of the curl of something not-measureable (the gauge fields) measurable?


thanks

 

[Vanadium 50]

Let's go back to mechanics. Do you have a problem with force being measurable but potential energy not being measurable?

 

[Lapidus]

Good point.

So just as in classical mechanics only the difference in the potential is directly measurable, so are in electrodynamics only the components of the curl of the gauge potentials directly measurable.

I need to do some more reading and then come back with more questions...