Kerner Equation for Motion in a Non-Abelian Gauge Field

Abstract

The equations of motion of an isospin-carrying particle in a Yang–Mills and gravitational field were first proposed in 1968 by Kerner, who considered geodesics in a Kaluza–Klein-type framework. Two years later, the flat space Kerner equations were completed by also considering the motion of the isospin by Wong, who used a field-theoretical approach. Their groundbreaking work was then followed by a long series of rediscoveries whose history is reviewed. The concept of isospin charge and the physical meaning of its motion are discussed. Conserved quantities are studied for Wu–Yang monopoles and diatomic molecules by using van Holten’s algorithm.