In the Aharonov-Bohm setup, a double-slit experiment, coherent beams of electrons passing through two slits form an interference pattern on the observing screen. However, when a long but thin solenoid of current is introduced behind the slits between the two electron beams, an extra phase difference between them appears, as shown by a shift in the interference pattern. This mysterious effect, purportedly arises owing to an electromagnetic momentum, attributed to the presence of a vector potential at the location of either beam, due to the solenoid of current even when there exists no magnetic field outside the solenoid. It has remained a puzzle, how just potential, thought to be a mere mathematical tool for calculating electromagnetic field, can give rise to an electromagnetic momentum in a system, in lieu of field itself. Experimentally the effect has been amply verified, with hardly any doubts that the observed effect is real. A satisfactory physical explanation of the existence of momentum, at least under the aegis of classical electromagnetism, is still missing since inception of the idea more than half a century back. We here show that a subtle momentum can be seen to lie in the product of the drift velocities of the current carrying charges and the mass equivalent of their non-localized potential energies in the electric field of the interfering electrons which manifests, from a classical perspective, a linear momentum in the system. This elusive, additional momentum is what reflected through an extra phase difference between the interfering electron beams.
Author indications on fulfilling journal expectations
Provide a novel and synergetic link between different research areas.
Open a new pathway in an existing or a new research direction, with clear potential for multi-pronged follow-up work
Detail a groundbreaking theoretical/experimental/computational discovery
Present a breakthrough on a previously-identified and long-standing research stumbling block
Current status:
Publication decision taken: reject
Editorial decision:
For Journal SciPost Physics: Reject
(status: Editorial decision fixed and (if required) accepted by authors)
