Gauge invariance of the Aharonov-Bohm effect in a quantum electrodynamics framework

Fuente: arXiv
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Autor principal: Saldanha, Pablo L.
Formato: Preprint
Publicado: 2024
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author Saldanha, Pablo L.
author_facet Saldanha, Pablo L.
contents The gauge invariance of the Aharonov-Bohm (AB) effect with a quantum treatment for the electromagnetic field is demonstrated. We provide an exact solution for the electromagnetic ground energy due to the interaction of the quantum electromagnetic field with the classical charges and currents that act as sources of the potentials in a classical description, in the Lorenz gauge. Then, we use first-order perturbation theory to compute an extra change on the electromagnetic ground energy due to the presence of a quantum charged particle with known wave function in the system. This energy in general depends on the quantum particle path in an interferometer, what results in an AB phase difference between the paths. The gauge invariance of this AB phase difference is then shown for the magnetic, electric, and the recently proposed electrodynamic versions of the AB effect. However, the AB phase difference could depend on the gauge for nonclosed paths, what reinforces the view that it only can be measured in closed paths.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2405_08536
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Gauge invariance of the Aharonov-Bohm effect in a quantum electrodynamics framework
Saldanha, Pablo L.
Quantum Physics
High Energy Physics - Theory
The gauge invariance of the Aharonov-Bohm (AB) effect with a quantum treatment for the electromagnetic field is demonstrated. We provide an exact solution for the electromagnetic ground energy due to the interaction of the quantum electromagnetic field with the classical charges and currents that act as sources of the potentials in a classical description, in the Lorenz gauge. Then, we use first-order perturbation theory to compute an extra change on the electromagnetic ground energy due to the presence of a quantum charged particle with known wave function in the system. This energy in general depends on the quantum particle path in an interferometer, what results in an AB phase difference between the paths. The gauge invariance of this AB phase difference is then shown for the magnetic, electric, and the recently proposed electrodynamic versions of the AB effect. However, the AB phase difference could depend on the gauge for nonclosed paths, what reinforces the view that it only can be measured in closed paths.
title Gauge invariance of the Aharonov-Bohm effect in a quantum electrodynamics framework
topic Quantum Physics
High Energy Physics - Theory
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2405.08536