Yang-Mills Theory in Light-Cone Gauge

Light-cone coordinates

x =

x0
x1
x2
x3

x+
x
x1
x2

, = +, , i (i = 1, 2)

The light-cone coordinates are defined as

x+ =

(t + x3 )
(t x3 )

and x =
,
2
2

while x1 and x2 remain the same.

Therefore,
t=

(x+ + x ) 3 (x+ x )

, x =
2
2

Now,
2

(x)2 = x0 + x1 + x2 + x3
(x+ x )2
(x+ + x )2
2
2
+ x1 + x2 +
=
2
2
+
12
22
= 2x x + x + x
Also,
(x)2 = x x
Hence, the metric tensor is given by

0 1 0 0
1 0 0 0
0
0 1 0
0
0 0 1

and,

x = x =

x
x+
x1
x2

The derivatives in light-cone coordinates are given as

=

x0

=
x
x0 x
1

+ =

x00
x03
1
=
+
= [ + 03 ]
+
00
+
03
+
x
x x
x x
2 t x

x00
x03
1
=
+
= [ 03 ]

00

03

x
x x
x x
2 t x

, (i = 1, 2)
xi
+ = , = + and i = i
i =

Electromagnetism

Electromagnetism is one of the four fundamental interactions in nature. It deals with the
interaction of electrically charged particles and currents. It can be attractive or repulsive,
depending on the electric charge of the interacting particles. Classically, it is described in
terms of the electromagnetic field. The quanta of electromagnetic field are photons, which
are massless spin 1 particles. Since the mediator of this interaction is massless, it is infiniteranged. In field theories, photons are represented by the 4-potential A , which follow the
Maxwells equations.

1.1

Lagragian

The Lagrangian for the electromagnetic field is given by :

1
F F
L=
4
where , = +, , i and
F = ( A A )
Equations of motion
The Euler-Lagrangian equations of motion for the above lagrangian are:
L
L

=0

( A ) A
The second term in the above equation vanishes because the lagrangian depends on
A only through its derivatives. The contribution from the first term is as follows :

L
1

F F

( A )
4
( A )
1

( A A )F
2
( A )
1
=
( )F
2
1
=
(F F )
2
= F
2

Hence, the equations of motion are given by :

F = 0
Now, we shall consider the equation of motion corresponding to each value of .
Case 1 : = +

+ F ++ + F + + i F i+
since F ++ = 0 ,
( A+ + A ) + i ( i A+ + Ai )
(+ A A+ ) i ( i A Ai )
( + i i )A 2 A+ + i Ai

= 0
= 0
= 0
= 0

Case 2 : =

+ F + + F + i F i
since F = 0 ,
+ ( + A A+ ) + i ( i A Ai )
+ ( A+ + A ) i ( i A+ + Ai )
(+ i i )A+ +2 A + i + Ai

= 0
= 0
= 0
= 0

Case 3 : = j , (j = 1, 2)

+ F +j + F j + i F ij
+ ( + Aj j A+ ) + ( Aj j A ) + i ( i Aj j Ai )
+ ( Aj j A ) ( + Aj j A+ ) + i ( i Aj j Ai )
j A+ + + j A + (i i 2+ )Aj i j Ai

=
=
=
=

0
0
0
0

On setting A+ = A = 0 (light-cone gauge), the above equations simplify to:

= + : A+ i Ai = 0
= : (+ i i )A+ + i + Ai = 0
= j : j A+ + (i i 2+ )Aj i j Ai = 0

Hence, we obtain two sets of equations namely, dynamical equations of motions, which
have time dependence and constraint, which is time independent.
Dynamical equations of motion:
(+ i i )A+ + i + Ai = 0
j A+ + (i i 2+ )Aj i j Ai = 0 (i, j = 1, 2)
Constraint:
2 A+ i Ai = 0
Using the constraint equation, A+ can be expressed in terms of Ai in the following way.
2 A+ i Ai = 0
2 A+ = i Ai
i
Ai
A+ =

Therefore, in light-cone gauge, two of the four degrees of freedom of photons become
redundant. So, one can do away with them and deal with the two physical degrees of freedom
only.

1.2

Lagrangian in the light-cone gauge

With A = 0 and A+ =
become :

i
A,
i

the different components of electromagnetic field tensor F

F+ = ( A+ + A ) = (

j
)Aj = j Aj

Fi = ( Ai i A ) = Ai
F+i = (+ Ai i A+ ) = (+

i2
)Ai

Fij = (i Aj j Ai )
Also, F + = F+ , F +i = Fi , F +i = F+i and F ij = Fij
The Lagrangian for the electromagnetic field is given by
L=

1
F F , (, = +, , i)
4

Since F++ = F = Fii = 0, the above expression reads

1
[F+ F + + F+i F +i + F+ F + + Fi F i + Fi+ F i+ + Fi F i + Fij F ij ]
4
1
=
[2F+ F+ 4F+i Fi + Fij Fij ]
4
2
1
[2(i Ai )2 4( Ai )(+ i )Ai + (i Aj j Ai )2 ]
=
4

2
1

1
=
(i Ai )2 + ( Ai )(+ i )Ai (i Aj j Ai )2
2

L =

Consider
A=

A1 iA2
A1 + iA2

, A=
2
2

A1 =

A+A
AA

, A2 =
2
2i

and
=

1 + i2
1 i2

, =
2
2

+
12 + 22

1 =
, 2 =
, =
2
2
2i

The action integral, S is defined as S = d4 xL

R

Hence, terms like d4 x i (Aj i Aj ) vanish when integrated over all space, since all fields
are assumed to die out at infinity.
R

d4 x i (Aj i Aj ) = d4 x (i Aj )(i Aj ) + d4 x Aj i2 Aj = 0
R

i Aj i Aj = Aj i2 Aj etc.
Now, we shall consider each term of the Lagrangian given below separately.
1
2
1
L = (i Ai )2 + (+ i )Ai ( Ai ) (i Aj j Ai )2
2

First term :

1
( A )2
2 i i

1
= Ai i2 Ai
2
1
= [A1 12 A1 + A2 22 A2 ]
2
1
= [(A + A)12 (A + A) (A A)22 (A A)]
4
1
1
= [A(12 22 )A + A(12 22 )A] [A(12 + 22 )A + A(12 + 22 )A]
4
4
1
= [A(12 22 )A + A(12 22 )A] AA
4
Second term : (+

i2
)Ai ( Ai )

= Ai + Ai + Ai i2 Ai
= (A1 + A1 + A2 + A2 ) + (A1 12 A1 + A2 22 A2 )
1
1
= [(A + A)+ (A + A) (A A)+ (A A)] + [(A + A)12 (A + A) (A A)22 (A A)]
2
2
1
1
2
2
2
2
= [A+ A + A+ A] + [A(1 2 )A + A(1 2 )A] + [A(12 + 22 )A + A(12 + 22 )A]
2
2
1
= A[2( + )]A + [A(12 22 )A + A(12 22 )A]
2
Third term : 14 (i Aj j Ai )2
1
= [(1 A2 2 A1 )2 + (2 A1 1 A2 )2 ]
4
1
= [(1 A2 )2 + (2 A1 )2 2(1 A2 )(2 A1 )]
2
1
=
[A2 12 A2 + A1 22 A1 2A2 1 2 A1 ]
2
1
=
[(A A)12 (A A) + (A + A)22 (A + A) 2(A A)1 2 (A + A)]
4
1
= [A(12 22 )A + A(12 22 )A] + AA
4
Thus, adding the three terms, we find that the lagrangian for electromagnetic field
simplifies to:
L = AA, where  = 2( + )

Strong Interaction

Strong force deals with the interaction between quarks that together form protons, neutrons
and the other hadrons. It is short-ranged and the strongest of all the four fundamental
forces of nature. It is mediated by massless particles, called the gluons. Quarks come in
six flavours, while the gluons are of eight types. Hence, unlike the case of photons, the
commutator [Aa , Ab ] 6= 0. The field tensor for strong interaction reads
a
F
= Aa Aa + gf abc Ab Ac (a, b, c = 1, 2...8)

2.1

Lagrangian for strong interaction

The Lagrangian for strong interaction is given by

L=

1 a a
F F
4

Euler-Lagranges equations of motion :

L
L

=0

a
( A ) Aa

Here, both the terms have non-zero contribution. We consider each term separately.
First Term :

L
1
q
F q )
=
( a F

a
( A )
4
A
1 q
=
(F a F q )
2
A
1 q
=
[F a ( Aq Aq )]
2
A
1 q
=
[F ( aq aq )]
2
1 a
a
=
(F F
)
2

a
a
since , are anti-symmetric indices, F
= F

L
a
= F
( Aa )

Second Term :
1
L
q
=
(F
F q )
a
a
A
4 A
1
q
=
( a F q )F
2 A
1
q
=
( Aa Ai + gf ijk Aj Ak )F
a
2 A

1
q
=
gf ijk a (Aj Ak )F
2
A
1
q
=
gf ijk ( aj Ak + Aj ak )F
2
1
i
i
=
g(f iak Ak F
+ f ija Aj F
)
2
1
i
i
gf iak Ak (F
F
)
=
2
1
i
i
=
gf aki Ak (F
F
)
2
k b, i c (dummy indices)
1
c
c
gf abc Ab (F
F
)
=
2
c
= gf abc Ab F
Therefore, the Euler-Lagranges equations of motion are :
a
c
F
+ gf abc Ab F
=0
a
can be explicitly written as :
The different components of the field tensor F
a
F
= Aa Aa + gf abc A A

a
F++
a
F
Fiia
Fija

=
=
=
=

a
F+
=
=
a
F+i =
a
Fi
=
=

0
0
gf abc Abi Aci
i Aaj j Aai + gf abc Abi Acj
Aa+ + Aa + gf abc Ab Aa+
Aa+
+ Aai i Aa+ + gf abc Ab+ Aci
Aai i Aa + gf abc Ab Aai
Aai

Now, we shall consider the equation of motion corresponding to each value of in the
light-cone gauge by setting A+ = A = 0.
8

Case 1 : = +

a
a
a
c
c
c
+ F++
+ F+
+ i Fi+
gf abc (A+b F++
+ Ab F+
+ Aib Fi+
)=0
c
c
a
a
=0
+ Aib Fi+
gf abc (Ab F+
+ i Fi+
F+

+ Aa+ i (+ Aai i Aa+ +gf abc Ab+ Aci )+gf abc [Ab+ Ac+ +Abi (+ Aci i Ac+ +gf abc Aa+ Abi )] = 0
(+ i2 )Aa+ +i + Aai +gf abc [i (Ab+ Aci )Ab+ ( Ac+ )+Abi (i Ac+ )Abi (i Ac+ )]+g 2 2 Abi Aa+ Abi = 0

Case 2 : =

a
c
a
c
( + F+
gf abc A+b F+
) + ( i Fi
gf abc Aib Fi
)=0

[ Aa+ + gf abc Ab ( Ac+ )] + [i ( Aai ) gf abc Abi ( Aci )] = 0

2 Aa+ i Aai + gf abc Abi Aci = 0

Case 3 : = i
a
a
c
c
+ Fi
+ Fi
+ i Fiia + j Fjia gf abc [A+b F+i
+ Ab Fi
+ Aib Fiic + Ajb Fjic ] = 0

+ [+ Aai i Aa+ +gf abc Ab+ Aci ]+ ( Aai )+ i (gf abc Abi Aci )+ j [j Aai i Aaj +gf abc Abi Acj ]+
gf abc [A+b ( Aci ) Abi (gf cab Aaj Abi ) Abj (j Aci i Acj + gf cab Aaj Abi )] = 0
i Aa+ +(j j 2 + )Aai j i Aaj +gf abc [ Ab+ Aci +i (Abi Aci )+j (Abi Acj )Abj (j Aci i Acj )]
+g 2 2 f abc f abc (Abj Aaj Abi Abi Aai Abi ) = 0

Hence, we obtain two sets of equations namely, dynamical equations of motions, which
have time dependence and constraint, which is time independent.
Dynamical equations of motion:
(+ i2 )Aa+ +i + Aai +gf abc [i (Ab+ Aci )Ab+ ( Ac+ )+Abi (i Ac+ )Abi (i Ac+ )]+g 2 2 Abi Aa+ Abi = 0
i Aa+ +(j j 2 + )Aai j i Aaj +gf abc [ Ab+ Aci +i (Abi Aci )+j (Abi Acj )Abj (j Aci i Acj )]
+g 2 2 f abc f abc (Abj Aaj Abi Abi Aai Abi ) = 0

Constraint:
2 Aa+ i Aai + gf abc Abi Aci = 0
Using the constraint equation, A+ can be expressed in terms of Ai in the following way.
2 Aa+ = i Aai gf abc Abi Aci
Aa+ =

2.2

1
a
Ai gf abc 2 (Abi Aci )

Lagrangian for strong interaction in the light-cone gauge

The Lagrangian for strong interaction is given by

L=

1 a a
F F , (, = +, , i)
4

Since F++ = F = 0, the above expression reads

1 a +a
a
a
a
a
a
[F F
+ F+i
F +ia + F+
F +a + Fi
F ia + Fi+
F i+a + Fi
F ia + Fiia F iia + Fija F ija ]
4 +
1
a
a
a
a
[2F+
F+
4F+i
Fi
+ Fiia Fiia + Fija Fija ]
=
4
1
1 a a
a
a
F+ F+ + Fi
F+i
[Fiia Fiia + Fija Fija ]
=
2
4

L =

The above expression for the Lagrangian can be written out explicitly and simplified
using the commutation relation and the constraint
[Aa , Ab ] = if abc Aa Ab tc
Aa+ =

1
a
Ai gf abc 2 (Abi Aci )

Let us consider each term separately.

10

F irst term :
=
=
=
=
=

1 a
F Fa
2 + +

1
( Aa+ )2
2
1
i
1
[ ( Aai gf abc 2 (Abj Acj ))]2
2

1
1
1
1
[(i Aai )2 gf abc i Aai (Abj Acj ) gf abc (Abj Acj )i Aai + g 2 2 f abc f abc 2 (Abi Aci )2 ]
2

1
1
1
1
(i Aai )2 2gf abc i Aai (Abj Acj ) + g 2 2 f abc f abc 2 (Abi Aci )2
2

1
1
1
1
(i Aai )2 2gf abc (i Aai )Abj Acj + 2gf abc (i Aai )( Abj Acj ) + g 2 2 f abc f abc 2 (Abj Acj )2
2

a
a
Second term : Fi
F+i

= ( Aai )(+ Aai i Aa+ + gf abc Ab+ Aci )

1
i
1
i
= ( Aai )[+ Aai i ( Aai gf abc 2 (Abj Acj )) + gf abc ( Abi gf bac 2 (Aai Aci ))Aci ]

= ( Aai )(+

i
i
i
i2 a
)Ai + gf abc ( Aai )[ (Abj Acj ) 2 ( Abj Acj )] + gf abc ( Aai ) Abi Aci

1
g 2 2 f abc f abc ( Aai ) 2 (Abi Aci )Aci

= ( Aai )(+

i2 a
i
i
)Ai + 2gf abc ( Aai ) (Abj Acj ) gf abc ( Aai ) 2 ( Abj Acj )

1
g 2 2 f abc f abc ( Aai ) 2 (Abi Aci )Aci

Now, the action integral, S is defined as S = d4 xL

R

Hence, terms like d4 x i (Aj Ri Aj ) vanish when integrated

over all space,
since all fields
R 4
R 4
4
are assumed to die out at infinity. d x i (Aj i Aj ) = d x (i Aj )(i Aj ) + d x Aj i2 Aj = 0
R

i Aj i Aj = Aj i2 Aj etc.
Therefore, the second term simplifies to :

= ( Aai )(+

1
i2 a
)Ai + 2gf abc (i Aai )(Abj Acj ) gf abc (i Aai ) ( Abj Acj ) (gf abc )2

( Aai )

1
(Ab Aci )Aci
2 i
11

= ( Aai )(+

1
i2 a
)Ai + 2gf abc (i Aai )(Abj Acj ) gf abc (i Aai )( Abj Acj ) (gf abc )2

1
( Aai ) 2 (Abi Aci )Aci

1
1
1
1
T hird term : (Fija Fija + Fiia Fiia ) = (i Aaj j Aai + gf abc Abi Acj )2 (gf abc Abi Aci )2
4
4
4
4
1
= [(i Aaj j Aai )2 + gf abc [(i Aaj j Aai )Abi Acj + Abi Acj (i Aaj j Aai )] + (gf abc Abi Acj )2
4
+(gf abc Abi Aci )2 ]]
1
1
(i Aaj j Aai )2 + gf abc (i Aaj j Aai )Abi Acj [(gf abc Abi Acj )2 + (gf abc Abi Aci )2 ]
4
4
1

1
= (i Aaj j Aai )2 + gf abc (i Aaj j Aai )Abi Acj [(gf abc Abi Acj )2 + (gf abc Abi Aci )2 ]
4

4
1
1
= (i Aaj j Aai )2 + gf abc [ (i Aaj j Aai )Abi Acj + (i Aaj j Aai ) Abi Acj ]
4

1
[(gf abc Abi Acj )2 + (gf abc Abi Aci )2 ]
4
1
1
1
= (i Aaj j Aai )2 + gf abc (i Aaj j Aai ) Abi Acj [(gf abc Abi Acj )2 + (gf abc Abi Aci )2 ]
4

4
=

On adding the three terms, the Lagrangian for strong interaction to the order g can
be expressed as :
1
1
2
1
L = (i Aai )2 +( Aai )(+ i )Aai (i Aaj j Aai )2 +gf abc [(i Aai ) Abi Aci (i Aaj j Aai ) Abi Acj ]
2

where the first three terms are exactly the same as one obtains in case of electromagnetism.
Hence, the Lagrangian
L = LEM + gf abc

1
[(i Aai )( Abi Aci ) (i Aaj j Aai )( Abi Acj )]

Now, let us consider

A=

Aa1 + iAa2
Aa iAa
a

, A = 1 2
2
2
a

Aa1

Aa + A
Aa A
=
, Aa2 =
etc.
2
2i

12

and
=

1 + i2
1 i2

, =
2
2

+
1 = , 2 =
2
2i
a

The first term in the Lagrangian, i.e. LEM yields A Aa , while the second piece which
is of order g can be simplified term by term in the following way :
First term :
1
1
(i Aai )( Abj Acj ) =
[(1 Aa1 )( Ab1 Ac1 )+(1 Aa1 )( Ab2 Ac2 )+(2 Aa2 )( Ab1 Ac1 )+(2 Aa2 )( Ab2 Ac2 )]

1
i
a
b
c
b
c
a
1 (Aa + A )[ (Ab + A )(Ac + A ) (Ab A )(Ac A )]
2 (Aa A )
=
2 2
2 2
b

[ (Ab + A )(Ac + A ) (Ab A )(Ac A )]

1
1
a
a
b
c
a
a
=
[1 (Aa +A )i2 (Aa A )] (Ab +A )(Ac +A )
[1 (Aa +A )i2 (Aa A )]
2 2
2 2
b

(Ab A )(Ac A )
=

1
1
a
c
b
b c
a
c
b
b c
(Aa +A ) (Ab Ac +Ab A +A Ac +A A )
(Aa +A ) (Ab Ac Ab A A Ac +A A )
2
2
1
c
b
a
c
a
b
=
[Aa Ab A + Aa A Ac + A Ab A + A A Ac ]

Second term :
1
1
(i Aaj j Aai )( Abi Acj ) =
[(1 Aa2 2 Aa1 ) Ab1 Ac2 + (2 Aa1 1 Aa2 ) Ab2 Ac1 ]

1
i
a
b
c
b
c
=
1 (Aa A )[ (Ab + A )(Ac A ) (Ab A )(Ac + A )] +
2 2
2 2
a

2 (Aa + A )[ (Ab + A )(Ac A ) (Ab A )(Ac + A )]

1
a
a
b
c
b
c
=
[1 (Aa A ) i2 (Aa + A )][ (Ab + A )(Ac A ) (Ab A )(Ac + A )]
2 2
=

1 (1 i2 ) a (1 + i2 ) a
b
c

[
A
A ]( A Ac Ab A )

2
2
1
a
b
c
=
[A Aa ]( A Ac Ab A )

13

1
c
b
a
c
a
b
[Aa Ab A Aa A Ac A Ab A + A A Ac ]

Hence, on adding both the terms, one obtains the Lagrangian for strong interaction in
the light-cone gauge :
a

L = A Aa + 2gf abc (

a
a
c
c
A Ab A +
A A b A )

14