nLab gauge boson

Idea

In quantum field theory the term gauge boson denotes the quantum of a gauge field.

In terms of Chern-Weil theory/differential cohomology we have: gauge bosons are the quanta of connections on bundles.

For instance

• a photon is the quantum of the electromagnetic field: a connection on a line bundle;

• a gluon is the quantum of the Yang-Mills field: a connection on a principal SU(3)-bundle.

• if one regards gravity as a gauge theory, then the graviton may be regaded as the gauge boson of a connection on a ISO-principal bundle.

Related concepts

• boson,

  • gauge boson

    • photon, gluon, graviton

• fermion

  • electron, quark,

  • gravitino,gaugino , dilatino