Srednicki Ch90: How to Identify Electromagnetic Gauge Field

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SUMMARY

Srednicki identifies the electromagnetic gauge field using the relationships between covariant derivatives and specific field components. He sets the fields as follows: \( l_{\mu} = l_{\mu}^a T^a + b_{\mu} \) and \( r_{\mu} = r_{\mu}^a T^a + b_{\mu} \). The key equation derived is \( eA_{\mu} = l^3_{\mu} + r_{\mu}^3 + \frac{1}{2}b_{\mu} \). The discussion highlights the need to match the covariant derivatives \( D_{\mu} p \) and \( D_{\mu} n \) with their respective forms, emphasizing the importance of consistency in the equations to arrive at the correct identification of the gauge field.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of covariant derivatives in gauge theory
  • Familiarity with Srednicki's Quantum Field Theory, Chapter 90
  • Knowledge of Lie algebra and generators \( T^a \)
  • Basic proficiency in mathematical physics, particularly in field theory
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the derivation of covariant derivatives in gauge theories
  • Learn about the role of gauge fields in quantum field theory
  • Examine the properties of Lie groups and their representations
  • Explore the implications of the Pauli matrices in gauge field theory
USEFUL FOR

Physicists, particularly those specializing in quantum field theory, graduate students studying gauge theories, and researchers working on electromagnetic interactions in particle physics.

LAHLH
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Does anyone know exactly how Srednicki identitifies the electromagnetic gauge field with his [itex]l,r,b[/itex] fields. I know he is trying to match covariant derivatives, i.e.

[itex]D_{\mu} p=(\partial_{\mu}-il_{\mu})p[/itex] with [itex]D_{\mu} p=(\partial_{\mu}-ieA_{\mu})p[/itex]

and that he has set [itex]l_{\mu}=l_{\mu}^a T^a+b_{\mu}[/itex]

and also match [itex]D_{\mu} n=(\partial_{\mu}-ir_{\mu})n[/itex] with [itex]D_{\mu} n=(\partial_{\mu})n[/itex]

and that he has set [itex]r_{\mu}=r_{\mu}^a T^a+b_{\mu}[/itex]

But I don't seem to be able to work out the fine print of arriving at (90.20):

[tex]eA_{\mu}=l^3_{\mu}+r_{\mu}^3+1/2b_{\mu}[/tex]

from these.

I guess it must be quite simple, and I thought maybe I should just expand the [itex]T^{a}[/itex] gens in terms of Pauli then solve simultaneously, but this didn't quite seem to work out..
 
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I seem to be finding:

[tex]D_{\mu} p=\partial_{\mu} p-\frac{i}{2}\left[(l_{\mu}^2+r_{\mu}^1)n-i(l_{\mu}^2+r_{\mu}^2)n+(l_{\mu}^3+r_{\mu}^3+2b_{\mu}) p\right][/tex]

and

[tex]D_{\mu} n=\partial_{\mu} n-\frac{i}{2}\left[(l_{\mu}^2+r_{\mu}^1)p+i(l_{\mu}^2+r_{\mu}^2)p+(l_{\mu}^3+r_{\mu}^3+2b_{\mu}) n\right][/tex]

when what I want to demand consistency with is

[tex]D_{\mu}p=\partial_{\mu}p-ieA_{\mu}p[/tex]
and
[tex]D_{\mu}n=\partial n[/tex]

and Srednicki says to do this I need to demand [itex]eA_{\mu}=l^3_{\mu}+r_{\mu}^3+1/2b_{\mu}[/itex]

Anyone tell me where I am going wrong?
 

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