Preparation for Gauge Theory

Abstract

Class lecture notes at a beginning graduate level on the mathematical background needed to understand classical gauge theory. Covers group actions, fiber bundles, principal bundles, connections, gauge transformations, parallel transport, curvature, covariant derivatives, pseudo-riemannian manifolds, lagrangians, clifford algebras, spin bundles, and the Dirac operator. Requires an elementary knowledge of groups, manifolds, lie groups and algebras, and mutlilinear algebra.