The canonical Aharonov–Bohm effect is usually studied with time-independent potentials. In this work, we investigate the Aharonov–Bohm phase acquired by a charged particle moving in time-dependent potentials. In particular, we focus on the case of a charged particle moving in the time-varying field of a plane electromagnetic wave. We work out the Aharonov–Bohm phase using both the potential (i.e. $\oint A_\mu \mathrm{d}x ^\mu$ ) and the field (i.e. $\frac{1}{2}\int F_{\mu \nu } \mathrm{d}\sigma ^{\mu \nu }$ ) forms of the Aharonov–Bohm phase. We give conditions in terms of the parameters of the system (frequency of the electromagnetic wave, the size of the space–time loop, amplitude of the electromagnetic wave) under which the time-varying Aharonov–Bohm effect could be observed.The canonical Aharonov–Bohm effect is usually studied with time-independent potentials. In this work, we investigate the Aharonov–Bohm phase acquired by a charged particle moving in time-dependent potentials. In particular, we focus on the case of a charged particle moving in the time-varying field of a plane electromagnetic wave. We work out the Aharonov–Bohm phase using both the potential (i.e. $$\oint A_\mu \mathrm{d}x ^\mu $$ ) and the field (i.e. $$\frac{1}{2}\int F_{\mu \nu } \mathrm{d}\sigma ^{\mu \nu }$$ ) forms of the Aharonov–Bohm phase. We give conditions in terms of the parameters of the system (frequency of the electromagnetic wave, the size of the space–time loop, amplitude of the electromagnetic wave) under which the time-varying Aharonov–Bohm effect could be observed.

arXiv:1509.01646The European Physical Journal CSep 1, 201510 citations

The time-dependent aharonov-bohm effect

James B. Macdougall

Jan 1, 20160 citations

The covariant, time-dependent Aharonov–Bohm effect

Douglas Singleton, Elias C. Vagenas

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 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.

arXiv:1305.1498Physics Letters BMay 9, 201345 citations

The time-dependent Aharonov-Bohm effect

Douglas Singleton, Elias C. Vagenas

Bulletin of the American Physical SocietyNov 1, 20130 citations

AC Stark effect or time-dependent Aharonov-Bohm effect for particle on a ring

Patrick Hinrichs, Douglas Singleton, Nader Inan

We study the effect of a time-varying solenoidal vector potential for a quantum particle confined to a ring. The setup appears to be a time-varying version of the Aharonov-Bohm effect, but since the particle moves in the presence of fields, it is not strictly an Aharonov-Bohm effect. The results are similar to the ac Stark effect, but with a time-varying electric field coming from the vector potential, rather than the scalar potential. We compare and contrast the present effect with the standard ac Stark effect. The signature of this setup is the generation of quasi-energy sidebands which are observable via spectroscopy.We study the effect of a time-varying solenoidal vector potential for a quantum particle confined to a ring. The setup appears to be a time-varying version of the Aharonov-Bohm effect, but since the particle moves in the presence of fields, it is not strictly an Aharonov-Bohm effect. The results are similar to the ac Stark effect, but with a time-varying electric field coming from the vector potential, rather than the scalar potential. We compare and contrast the present effect with the standard ac Stark effect. The signature of this setup is the generation of quasi-energy sidebands which are observable via spectroscopy.

quant-pharXiv:2512.15935Physics Letters ADec 19, 20250 citations

The time-dependent, electromagnetic Aharonov-Bohm effect

Zachary Kertzman, A. Petridis

Bulletin of the American Physical SocietyApr 14, 20080 citations

\oint A_\mu \mathrm{d}x ^\mu

) and the field (i.e.

\frac{1}{2}\int F_{\mu \nu } \mathrm{d}\sigma ^{\mu \nu }

) forms of the Aharonov–Bohm phase. We give conditions in terms of the parameters of the system (frequency of the electromagnetic wave, the size of the space–time loop, amplitude of the electromagnetic wave) under which the time-varying Aharonov–Bohm effect could be observed.