We study the time-dependent Aharonov–Bohm effect on the noncommutative space. Because there is no net Aharonov–Bohm phase shift in the time-dependent case on the commutative space, therefore, a tiny deviation from zero indicates new physics . Based on the Seiberg–Witten map we obtain the gauge invariant and Lorentz covariant Aharonov–Bohm phase shift in general case on noncommutative space. We find there are two kinds of contribution: momentum-dependent and momentum-independent corrections. For the momentum-dependent correction, there is a cancellation between the magnetic and electric phase shifts, just like the case on the commutative space. However, there is a non-trivial contribution in the momentum-independent correction. This is true for both the time-independent and time-dependent Aharonov–Bohm effects on the noncommutative space. However, for the time-dependent Aharonov–Bohm effect, there is no overwhelming background which exists in the time-independent Aharonov–Bohm effect on both commutative and noncommutative space. Therefore, the time-dependent Aharonov–Bohm can be sensitive to the spatial noncommutativity. The net correction is proportional to the product of the magnetic fluxes through the fundamental area represented by the noncommutative parameter θ , and through the surface enclosed by the trajectory of charged particle. More interestingly, there is an anti-collinear relation between the logarithms of the magnetic field B and the averaged flux Φ / N ( N is the number of fringes shifted). This nontrivial relation can also provide a way to test the spatial noncommutativity. For B Φ / N ∼ 1 , our estimation on the experimental sensitivity shows that it can reach the 10 GeV scale. This sensitivity can be enhanced by using stronger magnetic field strength , larger magnetic flux, as well as higher experimental precision on the phase shift.
The Aharonov-Bohm (AB) effect highlights the fundamental role of electromagnetic potentials in quantum mechanics, manifesting as a phase shift for a charged particle in field-free regions. While well-established for static magnetic fluxes, the effect's behavior under time-varying fluxes remains an open and debated question. Employing the WKB method, we derive the AB phase shift for a time-dependent magnetic vector potential, demonstrating that for circular paths in the quasistatic regime, it is proportional to the time-averaged enclosed magnetic flux,
ΔφAB=T1∫0TeΦ(t)dt, with the total phase shift, including kinetic contributions, equaling
eΦ(0). For non-circular paths, the phase shift depends on both the flux history and path geometry, revealing the effect's hybrid nature involving gauge potentials and induced electric fields. We verify the consistency of our gauge choice with Maxwell's equations and discuss the implications for local versus nonlocal interpretations of the AB effect. We also generalize the results to scenarios with nonzero external magnetic fields, where the enclosed flux is through the actual electron paths, and for circular paths of radius
R, the AB phase shift is also proportional to the time average of the enclosed flux
Φenc(R,t), with the total phase shift depending only on the initial enclosed flux
eΦenc(R,0); for general non-circular paths, the external magnetic field affects trajectories and phase accumulation through the Lorentz force, leading to additional path dependence. These findings clarify the role of gauge-dependent potentials and induced fields in the generalized AB effect, offering new theoretical insights and potential applications in quantum technologies.
Whether the time-dependent Aharonov-Bohm (AB) effect even exists or not has been the subject of long-standing debate. There are two factors complicating the problem. First, in the closed spacetime line integral of the vector potential that is thought to give the AB-phase shift, how to treat the time-varying vector potential is highly nontrivial. Second, the time-varying magnetic flux generates induced electric field even outside the solenoid. In the present paper, motivated by a recent work by Gao, we re-investigate the role of the induced electric field with the utmost care. This analysis reveals a highly nontrivial effect of the induced electric field, which turns out to be useful for verifying the very existence of the time-dependent AB-effect.
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, E=−∂tA, outside the solenoid. This result may already have been confirmed experimentally.
We discuss the situation of Aharonov–Bohm effect under self-duality condition of electromagnetic field, where there is no exact cancellation of the AB(t) phase shift because this phase shift is complex. This means that the time-dependent AB effect, magnetic AB phase shift is not canceled out by a phase shift coming from the Lorentz force with E=−∂tA. Our approach can be compared with the results obtained by other authors which have shown that AB(t) effect vanishes for Abelian electromagnetic plane waves.
The Aharonov-Bohm (AB) effect highlights the fundamental role of electromagnetic potentials in quantum mechanics. While extensively studied in the static case, the impact of a time-varying magnetic flux on the electron's phase shift remains an open and debated question. In this paper, we derive the AB phase shift for a time-dependent magnetic vector potential and show that it is proportional to the time average of enclosed magnetic flux. Our analysis reveals that the AB phase is continuously accumulated as the electron traverses its path, challenging the conventional view that it emerges instantaneously at the point of interference. This generalized AB effect may provide deeper insight into the role of gauge-dependent potentials in quantum mechanics and also suggest novel experimental tests using alternating or pulsed magnetic flux.