What do the numbers in the table represent for the transformation of fields?

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the representation of fields in the context of the Dirac Lagrangian and its invariance under local transformations. Specifically, it highlights the significance of the Hypercharge, denoted as the third number in the transformation table, which is an essential input for the Standard Model (SM) and cannot be deduced. The first two numbers relate to the transformation properties under the groups SU(2) and SU(3), where arbitrary choices of representation are made, influencing the behavior of the fields. The Lagrangian's invariance under these transformations is crucial for understanding particle interactions in quantum field theory.

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  • Understanding of Dirac Lagrangian formulation
  • Familiarity with group theory, specifically SU(2) and SU(3)
  • Knowledge of local gauge transformations and hypercharge
  • Basic concepts of quantum field theory
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Homework Statement
Here is a table summarizing all left handed particles/ antiparticles. I don't know the relationship between these numbers and the Fermi field. What kind of character does it describe?
And if I only know the first and second column, how can I calculate the third?
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The numbers are telling you what representations should you use to transform the fields. Let's see an example:
As we know the Dirac Lagrangian can be written as $$\mathscr{L}=\bar{\psi}\left(i\partial_\mu\gamma^\mu-m\right)\psi$$. Is easy to see that under a local transformation of group ##U(1)##, ##\psi'=e^{igY\theta}\psi## the Lagrangian is invariant. But note that ##Y## is an arbitrary number (a diagonal matrix if you work with more than one field). So for each field, you can assign a different value of ##Y##. That's the Hypercharge and it's the 3rd number of your table, and it's an input of SM, you cannot deduce it.
For the first two numbers is the same idea, imagine that, instead of one field you have two (or three) fields with the same mass, then you can write the Dirac Lagrangian as
$$\mathscr{L}=\begin{pmatrix}\bar{\psi}_1&\bar{\psi}_2\end{pmatrix}
\left(i\partial_{\mu}\begin{pmatrix}\gamma^\mu&0\\0&\gamma^\mu\end{pmatrix}-\begin{pmatrix}m&0\\0&m\end{pmatrix}\right)\begin{pmatrix}\psi_1\\\psi_2\end{pmatrix}$$
Now the Lagrangian is invariant under transformations of the group ##SU(2)##; $$\psi'=S\psi \qquad S=e^{ig_W\vec{T}\cdot \vec{\theta}}$$. But ##S## can belong to any representation of ##SU(2)##, so again we have an arbitrary choice of ##\vec{T}##. And that's what the second column of you table tell you. For those that transform with the trivial representation (1) ##\vec{T}=0\Longrightarrow S=I##, but for those that transform with the fundamental representation (2) ##\vec{T}=\frac{\vec{\sigma}}{2}## where ##\sigma## are the Pauli matrices. The same can be done with ##SU(3)##.
 

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