Logic of Gauge

Abstract

The logic of gauge theory is considered by tracing its development from general relativity to Yang-Mills theory, through Weyl’s two gauge theories. A handful of elements—which for want of better terms can be called geometrical justice, matter wave, second clock effect, twice too many energy levels—are enough to produce Weyl’s second theory; and from there, all that’s needed to reach the Yang-Mills formalism is a non-Abelian structure group (say SU(N)).