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arXiv:1702.08677 · Journal of the Korean Physical Society

Quantum Phase Shift of a Moving Dipole under a Magnetic Field at a Distance

Kang-Ho Lee, Young-Wan Kim, Kicheon Kang

Published Mar 1, 2018• 0 citations
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Abstract

We predict a quantum phase shift of a moving electric dipole in the presence of an external magnetic field at a distance. On the basis of the Lorentz-covariant field interaction approach, we show that a phase shift appears in the internal dipole state under the condition that the dipole is moving in the field-free region, which is distinct from the topological He-McKellar-Wilkens phase generated by a direct overlap of the dipole and the field. We discuss the experimental feasibility of detecting this phase with atomic interferometry and argue that detection of this phase will resolve the question of the locality in quantum electromagnetic interaction.

DOI
10.3938/jkps.72.588

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We predict a quantum phase shift of a moving electric dipole in the presence of an external magnetic field at a distance. On the basis of the Lorentz-covariant field interaction approach, we show that a phase shift appears in the internal dipole state under the condition that the dipole is moving in the field-free region, which is distinct from the topological He-McKellar-Wilkens phase generated by a direct overlap of the dipole and the field. We discuss the experimental feasibility of detecting this phase with atomic interferometry and argue that detection of this phase will resolve the question of the locality in quantum electromagnetic interaction.
We have recently tested the topological phase predicted by He and McKellar and by Wilkens: this phase appears when an electric dipole propagates in a transverse magnetic field. In the present paper, we first recall the physical origin of this phase and its relations to the Aharonov-Bohm and Aharonov-Casher phases. We then explain possible detection schemes and we briefly describe the lithium atom interferometer we have used for this purpose. Finally, we analyze in great detail the phase shifts induced by electric and magnetic fields acting on such an interferometer, taking into account experimental defects. The experiment and its results are described in the following paper.
We report an experimental test of the topological phase predicted by He and McKellar in 1993 and by Wilkens in 1994: this phase, which appears when an electric dipole propagates in a magnetic field, is connected to the Aharonov-Casher effect by electric-magnetic duality. The He-McKellar-Wilkens phase is quite small, at most 27 mrad in our experiment, and this experiment requires the high phase sensitivity of our atom interferometer with spatially separated arms as well as symmetry reversals such as the direction of the electric and magnetic fields. The measured value of the He-McKellar-Wilkens phase differs by 31% from its theoretical value, a difference possibly due to some as yet uncontrolled systematic errors.
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There are three topological phases related to electromagnetic interactions in quantum mechanics: 1. The Aharonov Bohm phase acquired when a charged particle encircles a magnetic field but travels through a field free region. 2. The Aharonov Casher phase acquired when a magnetic dipole encircles electric charges but travels through a charge free region. 3. The He McKellar Wilkens phase acquired when an electric dipole encircles magnetic charges but travels through a charge free region. We review the conditions under which these phases are indeed topological and their experimental realisation. Because the He McKellar Wilkens phase has been recently observed we pay particular attention to how the basic concept of "an electric dipole encircles magnetic charges" was realised experimentally, and discuss possible future experimental realisations.