| Abstract: | The Quantum Physical Origin of the Gauge Idea To consider quantum physics as an interplay of creation and annihilation processes has the consequence that gauge field theories are not only possible but necessary. Since the complex conjugate phase factors of each pair of fermion creators and annihilators can be arbitrary chosen, quantum field theories must be completely phase invariant. Unfortunately, even globally the Dirac equation for systems of free fermions is not phase invariant. The Dirac matrices are namely transformed, if we multiply the spinor components by different constant phase factors. The Dirac equations before and after the transformation are however physically equivalent. We may therefore say: Systems of free fermions will be completely described, only if we consider the class of all equivalent Dirac equations. Since Dirac's commutation relations are unitarily invariant, the class equivalent Dirac equations is invariant under all transformations of the group U 4. Unitary diagonal matrices yield arbitrary phase transformations. Hence, gauge fields of the group U 4 are compatible with the postulate of general phase invariance. These gauge file are so similar to the QED that we may speak of an “extended quantum electrodynamics”, EQE. Here, we will show that EQE exists. The invariant subgroup U 1 U 4 yields QED. The complementary subgroup SU 4 includes four subgroups SU 3, there subgroups O 4, and six subgroups SU 2. The latter ones may yield three pairs of quarks and three pairs of leptons, where the quarks form a group SU 3. More than two times three pairs of elementary fermions does not exist in in EQE Probably, EQE is different from the United EQD and QCD. However, it should be a promising version of a field theory in elementary particle physics, because it follows from an existing symmetry of the empirically wel founded Dirac theory. EQE is therefore free from hypothesis in the Newtonian sense of the word. Whatever it will finally mean, it cannot be rejected, since phase invariance must be required. The invention of new symmetries and the acception of a bie number of independent spinor components is dispensable or must be postponed at least. |
