It is shown that a natural extension of the hydrodynamical formalism of quantum mechanics for a Schrödinger particle to include vortical flows leads to the hydrodynamical formalism of quantum mechanics for a spinning particle. This latter formalism is then analysed in regard to its characteristic features, especially the subsidiary condition connecting the vorticity of flow with the inhomogeneity of spin field and the existence of spin stress. Also the formalism is brought to completion by establishing the global condition that quantizes circulation around a singular vortex line. The geometro-hydrodynamical formalism which is equivalent to the above hydrodynamical formalism but introduces a triad structure underlying the classical spin is reconstructed on its own footing. The geometrical property of the triad implies the invariance of theory with respect to the rotation of each triad around its symmetry axis by an arbitrary angle, and this necessitates the introduction of the electromagnetic potential, providing the geometrical interpretation of local gauge invariance. Applications of theory to various special cases and typical examples are deferred to Part II.
This paper addresses the scattering of a beam of charged particles by an infinitely long magnetic string in the context of the hydrodynamical approach to quantum mechanics. The scattering is qualitatively analyzed by two approaches. In the first approach, the quantum flow is studied via a one-parameter family of complex potentials. In the second approach, the qualitative theory of planar differential equations is used to obtain a one-parameter family of Hamiltonian functions which determine the phase portraits of the systems.
The Aharonov-Bohm effect is a physical phenomenon in which the quantum state of a charged particle acquires a phase shift that is directly proportional to the magnetic flux,
Φ, due to a (classical) magnetic field,
B, which is confined in a spatial region from which the magnetic field cannot escape. Even though the charged particle is not allowed to interact with the magnetic field, it accumulates a phase shift that affects the interference pattern produced. Not surprisingly, this apparent nonlocality is puzzling and counter intuitive. In this work, we provide an explanation that explains the physics underlying this apparent nonlocality. We find that the role of the confined magnetic field is to impart a puncture in the configuration space,
R2, of the charge. Therefore, the quantum state corresponding to the charged quantum particle acquires the phase shift due to its response to the modified topology of the configuration space,
R2−{0}, corresponding to the charge.
Motion of a nonrelativistic particle on a cone with a magnetic flux running through the cone axis (a ``flux cone'') is studied. It is expressed as the motion of a particle moving on the Euclidean plane under the action of a velocity-dependent force. The probability fluid (``quantum flow'') associated with a particular stationary state is studied close to the singularity, demonstrating nontrivial Aharonov-Bohm effects. For example, it is shown that, near the singularity, quantum flow departs from classical flow. In the context of the hydrodynamical approach to quantum mechanics, quantum potential due to the conical singularity is determined, and the way it affects quantum flow is analyzed. It is shown that the winding number of classical orbits plays a role in the description of the quantum flow. The connectivity of the configuration space is also discussed.
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.
The magnetic Aharonov-Bohm effect shows that charged particles may be affected by the vector potential in regions without any electric or magnetic fields [1]. The Aharonov-Bohm effect was experimentally confirmed [2-3] and has been found in many situations [4-6]. A common explanation is based on quantum mechanics, which states that the wavefunctions associated with the charges will accumulate a phase shift due to the vector potential. However, consensus about its nature and interpretation has not been achieved [7-14]. We here propose a simple but reasonable interpretation based on the theory for electromagnetic radiation and couplings [15]. The energy associated with a pulse radiator is divided into a Coulomb-velocity energy and a radiative energy, together with a macroscopic Schott energy accounting for the energy exchange between them. All these energies are expressed with terms including the potentials, so are the mutual coupling energies. There exists a force acting on the moving charges even though the fields completely vanish. This force makes the charges pass through the magnetic solenoid in different velocity with different path length, causing a phase shift the same as that obtained with quantum mechanics. The theory is originally aimed for providing an interpretation for electromagnetic radiation and mutual coupling. It is derived directly from the Maxwell theory with no modification but only substitution and reorganization.