Lie Symmetries of Yang-Mills Equations

Abstract

We investigate Lie symmetries of general Yang-Mills equations. For this purpose, we first write down the second prolongation of the symmetry generating vector fields, and compute its action on the Yang-Mills equations. Determining equations are then obtained, and solved completely. Provided that Yang-Mills equations are locally solvable, this allows for a complete classification of their Lie symmetries. Symmetries of Yang-Mills equations in the Lorentz gauge are also investigated.