An introduction to classical gauge theory in mathematics and physics

Abstract

We describe some aspects of classical gauge theory from the perspective of connections on vector bundles. We begin by examining classical electromagnetism, and use it to motivate the development of gauge theory on vector bundles. If G is a Lie group, we review some of the theory of vector G-bundles, their associated principal G-bundles, and the related theory of connections. We then discuss the idea of gauge transformations on principal and vector G-bundles, and view electromagnetism as an example of an abelian gauge theory. We briefly review the action principle in order to describe non-abelian gauge theories such as the Yang-Mills equation. Finally, we present the main results from an article by John Baez entitled "Higher Yang-Mills Theory" where he attempts to abstract Yang-Mills theory using some concepts from category theory.