Geometrical aspects of gauge configurations

The author presents an informal description of the geometrical foundations of gauge theories. The theory of gravitation is compared to theories of the Yang-Mills type. Space-time symmetries of gauge configurations are defined in terms of automorphisms of principal bundles. Symmetry breaking is related to restricting the structure group of the bundle. The Lienard-Wiechert solution of the Yang-Mills equations is discussed in some detail. An approximate solution of the Yang-Mills equations is shown to allow for the phenomenon of radiation of the colour charge by a classical gluon field. (Auth.)