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Gauge Fields
Particles and fields interact in combinations that appear to be
well-modelled by the thoery of mathematical groups. The exploration of this
relationship is called Gauge Theory.
We delineate the interactions below; supporting evidence is emphasized
subsequently.
- Quantum Electrodynamics is the theory of electric charge and its
interactions, electromagnetism. (In common experience, we perceive electricity
and magnetism as two separate phenomena. Special relativity shows that one is
an unavoidable adjunct of the other: in a frame co-moving with charge, it never
generates a magnetic field.) Mathematically, QED is the simplest possible
('rank' 1) interaction theory for quantum particles.
All of chemistry and much of engineering.
- The weak interaction mediates the transformation of matter from
one charge state to another. The mathematical theory of weak interactions is
exactly one rank above that of QED.
Radioactive decay, high-energy lepton physics (include creation of
quark-antiquark pairs in electron-positron collisions).
- Quantum chromodynamics describes the interactions that bind
quarks (partial-charge states) into nucleons (protons and neutrons). The
progression continues: the mathematical theory is exactly one rank more complex
than that of the weak interactions.
Baryon spectroscopy, kinematics of high-energy colliding proton
beams.
- Gravitation, in its three-dimensional manifestation, is in some
measures, only one rank more complex than quantum chromodynamics.
- Each field is generated by a particle charge. Respectively for each
interaction, these are electric charge, isospin,
color and mass.
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