# Photons as quasi-charged particles

## TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how photons can mimic charged particles in electromagnetic fields by using inhomogeneous media to induce geometric effects, enabling simulation of quantum phenomena like the Aharonov-Bohm effect with slow light.

## Contribution

It introduces a method to simulate charged particle dynamics with photons via geometric effects in inhomogeneous media, expanding quantum simulation capabilities.

## Key findings

- Photons can acquire an artificial vector potential in inhomogeneous media.
- The method enables reduced dispersion and topological phase shifts in photon propagation.
- Potential applications in quantum simulation and topological photonics.

## Abstract

The Schrodinger motion of a charged quantum particle in an electromagnetic potential can be simulated by the paraxial dynamics of photons propagating through a spatially inhomogeneous medium. The inhomogeneity induces geometric effects that generate an artificial vector potential to which signal photons are coupled. This phenomenon can be implemented with slow light propagating through an a gas of double-Lambda atoms in an electromagnetically-induced transparency setting with spatially varied control fields. It can lead to a reduced dispersion of signal photons and a topological phase shift of Aharonov-Bohm type.