# Justification of gauge field transformations

I am trying to understand the gauge transformation of gauge fields in a gauge quantum field theory.

As an example I considered this wikipedia article, section 'An example: Scalar $O(n)$ gauge theory'. To leave the Lagrangian

$\ \mathcal{L} = \frac{1}{2} (\partial_\mu \Phi)^T \partial^\mu \Phi - \frac{1}{2}m^2 \Phi^T \Phi$

invariant under an $O(n)$ gauge group

$\ \Phi \mapsto \Phi' = G \Phi$

one has to replace the derivative by a covariant derivative, containing a gauge field, that transforms according to:

$\ A'_\mu = G A_\mu G^{-1} + \frac{i}{g} (\partial_\mu G)G^{-1}$

For me this transformation looks a bit artificial. How do we know that such a transformation even exists? Could the gauge field transform arbitrarily or are there limitations?

Further, how can I see that the gauge field is an element of the Lie algebra?

• – ACuriousMind Mar 15 '17 at 19:54
• What do you mean how do we know the transformation exists? Are you wondering if we start a Lie algebra valued field and apply this transformation is it still in the Lie algebra? – octonion Mar 15 '17 at 20:01
• No, the question is rather why the gauge field is an element of the lie algebra (or how to see that). Because its transformation behaviour was originally introduced to let the derivative transform covariantly, right? – Mr Puh Mar 15 '17 at 21:27

Gauge fields always live in the Lie algebra of their gauge group (or more precisely, in the adjoint representation of the Lie algebra, but in physics we only consider semisimple Lie algebras, whose adjoint representations are always faithful, so we tend to be sloppy about making that distinction).

The way I think about it, the fundamental information contained in a gauge field is the collection of Wilson lines $W_C$ for oriented curves $C$, which are matrices in the adjoint representation of the gauge group. These give the parallel transport map with respect to the chosen gauge, which allows you to compare quantities at different points in spacetime. Basically, they correct for the fact that your coordinate system might be "twisted". (If the curve $C$ is closed, then $\text{Tr } W_C$ is gauge-invariant and provides a measure of electromagnetic flux through the resulting "Wilson loop", which is useful for diagnosing confinement, among other things.)

Wilson lines are nonlocal, so it's more convenient to consider infinitesimally short Wilson lines connecting nearby points in spacetime, which are local. The gauge field is defined to be the deviation of an infinitesimal Wilson line from the identity:

$$A_\mu(x) := -i \lim_{\epsilon \to 0} \frac{W_{x \to x + \epsilon\, \hat{e}_\mu} - I}{\epsilon},$$

or equivalently, the derivative of the Wilson line in the $\mu$-direction:

$$A_\mu(x) := -i (\partial_{\mu'} W_{x \to x'})|_{x' = x}.$$

So basically the gauge field tells you how much the coordinate system (in a particular gauge) is twisting as you go in a particular direction, and the covariant derivative $D_\mu := \partial_\mu - i e A_\mu$ corrects that twist. Since the Wilson line is an element of (the adjoint representation of) the gauge group, its infinitesimal version is an element of (the adjoint representation of) the gauge group's Lie algebra.

Inverting the definition above gives the expression for a Wilson line in terms of the gauge field: $$W_C := \mathcal{P} \exp \left( i \int_C A_\mu dx^\mu \right),$$ which is the usual formula for converting an element of a Lie algebra to the corresponding element of the associated Lie group.