# Variation in action for modified EM Field Action

Hi everyone

I am teaching myself QFT, and am currently learning Lagrangian Field Theory. Here is a question I am trying to solve, and I am not absolutely sure if my solution is correct because I am new to this notation and material. I would be grateful if someone could go over it and let me know if its correct. This isn't homework.

Also, I'd like to know what the significance of this result is, if it is indeed true.

Question: Consider the action $S = \frac{1}{4}\int d^{4}x F_{\mu\nu}F^{\mu\nu}$. Vary the potential according to $A_{\mu} \rightarrow A_{\mu} + \partial_{\mu}\Phi$ where $\Phi$ is a scalar field. Determine the variation in the action.

Solution:

$$\delta S = \frac{1}{4}\int d^{4}x (\delta F_{\mu\nu}F^{\mu\nu} + F_{\mu\nu}\delta F^{\mu\nu})$$

$$\delta F_{\mu\nu}F^{\mu\nu} &=& \delta(\partial_{\mu}A_{\nu}-\partial_{\nu}A_{\mu})F^{\mu\nu}$$
$$\implies = (\partial_{\mu}\partial_{\nu}\Phi - \partial_{\nu}\partial_{\mu}\Phi)F^{\mu\nu} = 0$$

Similarly $F_{\mu\nu}\delta F^{\mu\nu} = 0$. Therefore $\delta S = 0$.

I have attached a pdf file, which contains this question and my working.

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