# Invariance, covariance and symmetry

Though often heard, often read, often felt being overused, I wonder what are the precise definitions of invariance and covariance. Could you please give me an example from quantum field theory? Thanks!!!

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Possible duplicate: physics.stackexchange.com/q/7700/2451 and links therein. – Qmechanic Apr 17 '13 at 2:21

The definitions of these terms are somewhat context-dependent. In general, however, invariance in physics refers to when a certain quantity remains the same under a transformation of things out of which it is built, while covariance refers to when equations "retain the same form" after the objects in the equations are transformed in some way.

In the context of field theory, one can make these notions precise as follows. Consider a theory of fields $\phi$. Let a transformation $T$ $$\phi \to\phi_T$$ on fields be given. Let a functional $F[\phi]$ of the fields be given (consider the action functional for example). The functional is said to be invariant under the transformation $T$ of the fields provided $$F[\phi_T] = F[\phi]$$ for all fields $\phi$. One the other hand, the equations of motion of the theory are said to be covariant with respect to the transformation $T$ provided if the fields $\phi$ satisfy the equations, then so do the fields $\phi_T$; the form of the equations is left the same by $T$.

For example, the action of a single real Klein-Gordon scalar $\phi$ is Lorentz-invariant meaning that it doesn't change under the transformation $$\phi(x)\to\phi_\Lambda(x) = \phi(\Lambda^{-1}x),$$ and the equations of motion of the theory are Lorentz-covariant in the sense that if $\phi$ satisfies the Klein-Gordon equation, then so does $\phi_\Lambda$.

Also, I'd imagine that you'd find this helpful.

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sorry that this might be a stupid question, but why $\phi_{\Lambda}(x)=\phi({\Lambda}^{-1}x)$? – M. Zeng Dec 24 '14 at 3:11
@Timo It's a (well-motivated) definition. The following posts contain some somewhat detailed remarks on the motivation physics.stackexchange.com/questions/95837/… , physics.stackexchange.com/questions/51994/… – joshphysics Dec 24 '14 at 16:46

It helps to remember that invariant quantities are seen as scalars to the transformation (they have no indices in the target space). In the other hand, covariant quantities are objects that transform in a certain way.

Example: Vectors in $R^{2}$, under rotation $R_{ij}$, transform covariantly since $v'_{i}=R_{ij}v_{j}$, but it's length is invariant since $|v'|^{2}=v'_{a}v'_{a}=R_{am}v_{m}R_{an}v_{n}=v_{m}R^{t}_{ma}R_{an}v_{n}=v_{m} \delta_{mn} v_{n}=v_{n}v_{n}=|v|^{2}$. This means that Newton's second Law transforms covariantly under rotations and the magnitude of the force is invariant.

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