Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-theoretical-physics-i-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2016/paper-1/2/c/solution
Past exam of the theoretical physics I course of the University of Cambridge 2016 Paper 1 2 c Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-20
Hold fixed while varying . With the specified convention , the two matter variations are and . ThusAdding the Maxwell variation from part (a) gives . ConsequentlyExpanding the gauge covariant derivatives supplies a useful convention check:In particular, the last sign is negative for the specified plus sign in . Reversing that convention requires consistently changing the phase transformation and current conventions as well. This current is the matter source in scalar electrodynamics; its dependence must not be dropped.
New to topics? Read the docs here!