Topology, Locality, and Aharonov-Bohm Effect with Neutrons

Journal Article · Mon Apr 10 00:00:00 EDT 1995 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.74.2847· OSTI ID:1343440

Peshkin, M.; Lipkin, H. J.

Recent neutron interferometry experiments have been interpreted as demonstrating a new topological phenomenon similar in principle to the usual Aharonov-Bohm (AB) effect, but with the neutron's magnetic moment replacing the electron's charge. We show that he new phenomenon, called scalar AB (SAB) effect, follows from an ordinary local interaction, contrary to the usual AB effect, and we argue that the SAB effect is not a topological effect by any useful definition. We find that SAB actually measures an apparently novel spin autocorrelation whose operator equations of motion contain the local torque in the magnetic field. We note that the same remarks apply to the Aharonov-Casher effect.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Nuclear Physics (NP)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-06CH11357
• OSTI ID: 1343440
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Vol. 74, Issue 15; ISSN 0031-9007
• Publisher: American Physical Society (APS)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS