Field redefinition's help in constructing non-abelian gauge theories

Abstract

We study, using the example of general covariance, to what extent a would-be non-abelian extension of free field abelian gauge theory can be helped by a field redefinition; answer – not much! However, models resulting from dimensional reduction also include non-gauge fields needing to be integrated out, thereby offering a wider choice of redefinitions whose effects may indeed change the situation.