1k views

### Can we measure an electromagnetic field?

As far as I can check, the Aharonov-Bohm effect is not -- contrary to what is claimed in the historical paper -- a demonstration that the vector potential $A$ has an intrinsic existence in quantum ...
2k views

### What is the conclusion from Aharonov-Bohm Effect?

What is the conclusion that we can draw from the Aharonov-Bohm effect? Does it simply suggest that the vector potential has measurable effects? Does it mean that it is a real observable in quantum ...
9k views

### What is the electric field outside a cylindrical solenoid?

What is the electric field outside a cylindrical solenoid when inside is turned on a magnetic field? The question is related to the question aharonov-bohm-effect-electricity-generation
843 views

### Why do we like gauge potentials so much?

Today I read articles and texts about Dirac monopoles and I have been wondering about the insistence on gauge potentials. Why do they seem (or why are they) so important to create a theory about ...
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### What is the more fundamental quantity? The electromagnetic field $F$ or the potential $A$?

Read somewhere that potential is a more fundamental quantity than EM field because if the latter is more fundamental then gauge transformation will reduce to nothing more than a mathematical trick. I ...
279 views

### Aharonov Bohm Effect Interaction Energy Interpretation: $\vec E_m = -∇Φ - D\vec A/Dt$?

The Wang paper "An experimental proposal to test the physical effect of the vector potential" proposes an experiment to decide between two interpretations of the Aharonov-Bohm effect: “the ...
517 views

### The meaning of potential in Bohm-Aharonov experiment

The Bohm-Aharonov experiment involves a magnetic field inside a cylinder which is zero outside that cylinder. Nonetheless it affects the electrons moving outside the cylinder. The explanation for this ...
299 views

### Can the physical properties of the EM field be described directly from the 4-gauge potential?

I'm trying to make an argument that classically, the EM field is considered a more 'real' physical quantity than the potentials, and am tempted to say that the fact that the field carries energy & ...
418 views

### Need of vector potential in quantum mechanics

I need your opinions. Why is the vector potential of a magnetic field important (or even necessary) to quantum mechanics? Why it has to be defined everywhere? Is there any fundamental reason you can ...
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### Physical Effect of the Gauge Potential

Through our physics education, we first learn that "the gauge potential $A_\mu$ is just a mathematical tool and does not have any physical consequences." When we study quantum theory we begin to ...
140 views

### If outside a cylindrical solenoid exist an electrical field what does that mean to the Aharonov-Bohm Effect?

To the question "What is the electric field outside a cylindrical solenoid when inside is turned on a magnetic field" the answer is that outside exists a electric field. Does that mean that the ...
95 views

### Can the Dirac quantization condition be derived within Lev Vaidman's formalism without gauge fields?

Textbooks often claim that phenomena like the Aharonov-Bohm effect require that any local formulation of quantum gauge theory use gauge potential fields. (It's also sometimes claimed that the A-B ...
90 views

### Aharonov-Bohm experiment: A possible way to understand potentials?

I'm posting this question as a function of an another question I found here: What is potential energy truly? The answer of WetSavannaAnimal aka Rod Vance. As I understand the hole point is to see ...