On the significance of electromagnetic potentials in the quantum theory

Henri E. Mitler

Electromagnetic potentials are found to be significant in quantum theory, even when the fluctuations of the vacuum are taken into account. Conditions are found under which the fluctuations will, nevertheless wash out an interference pattern.

Evgenii L. Feinberg

Frederick G. Werner, Dieter R. Brill

The effect of electromagnetic potentials on the interference fringes in electron interferometers in which electron beams are split into separate component beams which travel along spatially separated paths before being recombined are examined. By using a quantum theory interpretation of these fringe observations, it is shown that these potentials contribute significantly to the stability of the the fringe pattern. (C.J.G.)

E.L. Feinberg

S. Mandelstam

Yakir Aharonov, David Böhm

In this paper, we discuss some interesting properties of the electromagnetic potentials in the quantum domain. We shall show that, contrary to the conclusions of classical mechanics, there exist effects of potentials on charged particles, even in the region where all the fields (and therefore the forces on the particles) vanish. We shall then discuss possible experiments to test these conclusions; and, finally, we shall suggest further possible developments in the interpretation of the potentials.