Comment on "Role of Potentials in the Aharonov-Bohm Effect"

TL;DR

This paper critically examines the necessity of electromagnetic potentials in quantum phenomena, arguing that local gauge-invariant interactions are insufficient and that potentials are essential for a complete description.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of thought experiments challenging the dispensability of potentials, concluding that potentials are fundamentally necessary in quantum electromagnetism.

Findings

Local gauge-invariant interactions do not fully explain quantum electromagnetic phenomena.

Some thought experiments lack a gauge-invariant formal description.

Electromagnetic potentials are essential for a complete theoretical framework.

Abstract

Are the electromagnetic scalar and vector potentials dispensable? Lev Vaidman has suggested that local interactions of gauge-invariant quantities, e.g. magnetic torques, suffice for the description of all quantum electromagnetic phenomena. We analyze six thought experiments that challenge this suggestion. All of them have explanations in terms of $local$ interactions of gauge-dependent quantities, in addition, some have explanations in terms of nonlocal interactions of gauge-invariant quantities. We claim, however, that two of our examples have no gauge-invariant formal description and that, in general, no local description can dispense with electromagnetic potentials.