Timothy H. Boyer 

City College of the City University of New York
New York, New York 10031-9198

"Unresolved Classical Electromagnetic Aspects of the 
Aharonov-Bohm Phase Shift"


Abstract:

   The classical electromagnetic interaction of a
point charge with a magnetic solenoid has been a
subject of controversy for decades.  The controversy
extends to the interaction of a point charge with a
magnetic dipole moment, since a solenoid can be
regarded as a stack of magnetic dipoles.  Experimental
work has shown that a long solenoid placed between the
beams of an electron interferometer produces a
double-slit interference-pattern shift proportional to
the current in the solenoid. However, experiment has
not yet clarified whether or not the phase shift is
due to classical electromagnetic forces and velocity
changes for the passing particles or is due to quantum
behavior with no classical analogue.

   We will discuss classical electromagnetic aspects
of the interaction of a point charge with a magnetic
dipole moment and with a solenoid, pointing out that
induced changes in a magnetic dipole produce
electromagnetic fields back at a passing charge.  We
will note the unfamiliar penetration of magnetic
velocity fields into ohmic conductors, and we will
point out a possible electrostatic analogue of the
magnetic Aharonov-Bohm phase shift.  Finally, we will
mention possible experiments to clarify the
fundamental basis for the Aharonov-Bohm phase shift.