# Show that F transforms as an isovector.

1. Jul 10, 2012

### Jimmy Snyder

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
Show that
$$\delta F^{\mu\nu} = g\epsilon(x) \times F^{\mu\nu}$$

2. Relevant equations
$$F^{\mu\nu} = \partial^{\mu}W^{\nu} - \partial^{\nu}W^{\mu} - gW^{\mu} \times W^{\nu}$$
$$\delta W^{\mu} = \partial^{\mu}\epsilon(x) + g\epsilon(x) \times W^{\mu}(x)$$

3. The attempt at a solution
The equation in part 1 is eqn (3.46) on page 33 of An Informal Introduction to Gauge Field Theories by I. J. R. Aitchison (digitally printed version 2007). The first equation in part 2 is eqn (3.45) on the same page, and the second equation in part 2 is eqn (3.36) on page 32 of the same book. Here is what I get.

$$\delta F^{\mu\nu} = \delta\partial^{\mu}W^{\nu} - \delta\partial^{\nu}W^{\mu} - \delta(gW^{\mu} \times W^{\nu})$$
$$= \partial^{\mu} \delta W^{\nu} - \partial^{\nu}\delta W^{\mu} - g\delta W^{\mu} \times W^{\nu} - gW^{\mu} \times \delta W^{\nu}$$
$$= \partial^{\mu}\partial^{\nu}\epsilon + g\partial^{\mu}\epsilon \times W^{\nu} + g\epsilon \times \partial^{\mu}W^{\nu}$$
$$+ \partial^{\nu}\partial^{\mu}\epsilon - g\partial^{\nu}\epsilon \times W^{\mu} + g\epsilon \times \partial^{\nu}W^{\mu}$$
$$- g\partial^{\mu}\epsilon \times W^{\nu} - g^2\epsilon \times W^{\mu} \times W^{\nu}$$
$$- g W^{\mu} \times \partial^{\nu}\epsilon - g^2 W^{\mu} \times \epsilon \times W^{\nu}$$
Lots cancels out here. Unfortunately, too much does. I get

$$\delta F^{\mu\nu} = g\epsilon(x) \times (\partial^{\mu}W^{\nu} - \partial^{\nu}W^{\mu})$$

Where is my mistake?

2. Jul 10, 2012

### TSny

I think you need to be careful with the terms that involve two cross products. Use of parentheses will help. You have two terms: -g2($\epsilon$xWμ)xW$\nu$ -g2Wμx($\epsilon$xW$\nu$)

These two terms do not cancel. You can show that the two terms together reduce to -g2$\epsilon$x(WμxW$\nu$)

See identity #3 in this list http://wwwppd.nrl.navy.mil/nrlformulary/vector_identities.pdf [Broken]

Last edited by a moderator: May 6, 2017
3. Jul 10, 2012

### Jimmy Snyder

That's it TSny. Thanks for your help.