Charge screening in the Higgs phase of Chern-Simons electrodynamics

Journal Article · Mon Oct 11 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · Physical Review Letters; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.71.2383· OSTI ID:5918675

Bais, F A; Morozov, A; de Wild Propitius, M ^[1]

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1. Institute for Theoretical Physics, Valckenierstraat 65, 1018 XE Amsterdam (Netherlands)

Though screened at large distances, a pointlike electric charge can still participate in a long-range electromagnetic interaction in the Higgs phase, namely, that with the Aharonov-Bohm field produced by a localized magnetic flux. We show that this follows from the fact that the screening charge, induced in the presence of a Higgs condensate, does not interact with the Aharonov-Bohm field. The same phenomenon occurs, if a Chern-Simons term is incorporated in the action. This observation provides a physical basis for the recently proposed classification of the superselection sectors of this model in terms of a quasi-Hopf algebra.

• OSTI ID: 5918675
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters; (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review Letters; (United States) Vol. 71:15; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

662220* -- Quantum Electrodynamics-- (1992-)
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
AHARONOV-BOHM EFFECT
BASIC INTERACTIONS
COULOMB SCATTERING
ELASTIC SCATTERING
ELECTRIC CHARGES
ELECTRODYNAMICS
ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERACTIONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
HIGGS BOSONS
INTERACTIONS
POSTULATED PARTICLES
SCATTERING
SCREENING