The Aharonov-Bohm effect Part one: Theory

Akira Tonomura

Y. Ben-Aryeh

In the present Note it is suggested that there should be a certain complementarity of phases between Aharonov-Bohm (AB) solenoid phase calculation on one part of the system and a phase calculation about another part of the physical system. Assuming a unique value for the function of the total system, after a complete circulation of the electron around the solenoid, the sum of these two phase changes should vanish. Such assumption leads to a compatibility relation between our previous calculations for the AB solenoid phase effect and that of the original calculation by AB.

Donald H. Kobe

Toshimi Adachi, Toshio Inagaki, Masao Ozaki +1 more

The vector potential in electrodynamics is investigated through the decomposition of its form to the following two parts; the one is the so-called transverse part represented by a divergenceless vector and the other the longitudinal part represented by an irrotational vector. The decomposition can be done by the Helmholtz theorem in the vector analysis because the conditions which should be required when we use the Helmholtz theorem are satisfied for the almost vector potentials of physically interesting problems. As an example of such interesting problems, we choose here the Aharonov-Bohm effect. As for the Aharonov-Bohm effect, the vector potential given in the original paper of Aharonov and Bohm has the singularities along the z-axis. We show that even for such a singular potential the Helmholtz theorem is held provided that the concept of the distribution is introduced in it. Generally, the transverse part of the vector potential obtained through such a decomposition is uniquely determined by the magnetic field and does not alter by a gauge transformation, on the other hand, the longitudinal part depends on the choice of special gauge. We show that the Aharonov-Bohm effect is due to the contribution of the transverse part of the vector potential and therefore should not be influenced by any gauge transformations.

Vladimir D. Skarzhinsky

M. Babiker, R. Loudon

It is argued that much of the recent controversy over the Aharonov-Bohm effect has been fuelled by the widespread consideration of solenoids of infinite length: in this limit, the field and the vector potential have somewhat anomalous properties and it appears superficially that the Aharonov-Bohm phase shift can be changed by a gauge transformation. This incorrect impression is here removed by considering a solenoid of finite length and by carefully distinguishing the longitudinal and transverse parts of the vector potential. It is shown that the phase shift depends only on the transverse part of the vector potential and it cannot be changed by a gauge transformation. The nature of the difficulty that occurs in the limit of a solenoid of infinite length is examined in detail. The finite-length theory given here also provides guidelines for the design of experiments on the Aharonov-Bohm effect.