Galilean and \(U(1)\)-gauge symmetry of the Schrödinger field (Q2518412)

In the paper, Maxwell's equations are derived from gauge symmetry properties rather than symmetry properties of spacetime, whether or not the matter field coupled to it is relativistic. As a model, the authors use the Lagrangian of a free, non-relativistic spinless quantum particle. They show that if the Lagrangian density is to be invariant under local gauge transformation \(\psi(x) \mapsto \text{e}^{\lambda(x)}\psi(x)\), then it must couple to a gauge field \(A\) from which Maxwell's equations can be derived. The authors conclude that the particular form of the Maxwell equations are not due to the relativity of spacetime but that they are a consequence of the symmetry structure of the local \(U(1)\) gauge transformation.