Galilean Covariance versus Gauge Invariance

Germain Rousseaux (1)

1 JAD - Laboratoire Jean Alexandre Dieudonné

We demonstrate for the first time and unexpectedly that the Principle of Relativity dictates the choice of the ”gauge conditions” in the canonical example of a Gauge Theory namely Classical Electromagnetism. All the known ”gauge conditions” of the literature are interpreted physically as electromagnetic continuity equations hence the ”gauge fields”. The existence of a Galilean Electromagnetism with TWO dual limits (”electric” and ”magnetic”) is the crux of the problem [1]. A phase-space with the domains of validity of the various ”gauge conditions” is provided and is shown to depend on three characteristic times : the magnetic diffusion time, the charge relaxation time and the transit time of electromagnetic waves in a continuous medium [2].

Mots clés: Galilean Covariance; Gauge Invariance; Galilean Electromagnetism; Gauge Conditions

Domaines: Physique Classique [physics.class-ph]; Physique Générale [physics.gen-ph]; Electromagnétisme; Plasmas

Germain Rousseaux. Galilean Covariance versus Gauge Invariance. 2009. ⟨hal-00440826⟩