The covariant, time-dependent Aharonov-Bohm Effect
Abstract
We discuss two possible covariant generalizations of the Aharonov-Bohm effect - one expression in terms of the space-time line integral of the four-vector potential and the other expression in terms of the space-time "area" integral of the electric and magnetic fields written in terms of the Faraday 2-form. These expressions allow one to calculate the Aharonov-Bohm effect for time-dependent situations. In particular, we use these expressions to study the case of an infinite solenoid with a time varying flux and find that the phase shift is zero due to a cancellation of the Aharonov-Bohm phase shift with a phase shift coming from the Lorentz force associated with the electric field, , outside the solenoid. This result may already have been confirmed experimentally.
Cite
@article{arxiv.1305.1498,
title = {The covariant, time-dependent Aharonov-Bohm Effect},
author = {Douglas Singleton and Elias C. Vagenas},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1305.1498},
year = {2013}
}
Comments
11 pages, no figures, journal version, three added references