# Problem with Maxwell Lagrangian Density

Tags:
1. Jul 5, 2015

### Strangelet

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
I have to expand the following term:

$$\dfrac{1}{4} F_{\mu\nu}F^{\mu\nu} = \dfrac{1}{4} \left(\partial_{\mu}A_{\nu} - \partial_{\nu}A_{\mu}\right) \left(\partial^{\mu}A^{\nu} - \partial^{\nu}A^{\mu}\right)$$

to get in the end this form:

$$\dfrac{1}{2}\left(\partial_{\mu}A_{\nu}\right) \left(\partial^{\mu}A^{\nu}\right) - \dfrac{1}{2}\left(\partial_{\mu}A^{\mu}\right)^2$$

2. Relevant equations

I really don't know how to make the calculation. I tried to multiply terms but I think I din't get some rule about index.. sigh!

3. The attempt at a solution

2. Jul 5, 2015

### Physicist97

Here's a hint, ${\partial}_{\mu}A_{\nu}{\partial}^{\nu}A^{\mu}={\partial}_{\nu}A_{\mu}{\partial}^{\mu}A^{\nu}=({\partial}_{\mu}A^{\mu})^{2}$ . I'm not near a computer and have a hard time writing TeX from my phone, but foiling it out and using this relation should get you the right answer.

3. Jul 8, 2015

### TSny

I don't believe the expression $\dfrac{1}{4} F_{\mu\nu}F^{\mu\nu}$ is equal to the form you want to get. However, recall that two Lagrangian densities lead to the same equations of motion if they differ by the divergence of some expression. So, try to show that the initial and final forms differ only by a divergence of some expression.