On the Interpretation of the Aharonov-Bohm Effect

TL;DR

This paper reviews and compares two main interpretations of the Aharonov-Bohm effect, advocating for the interaction energy interpretation as the more physically consistent explanation.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis and extension of the interaction energy interpretation, clarifying its advantages over the electromagnetic potentials interpretation.

Findings

Interaction energy interpretation offers a more physically acceptable explanation.

The paper extends the analysis of the interaction energy approach.

It clarifies differences between the two main interpretations.

Abstract

The Aharonov-Bohm (A-B) effect showed that the phase of electron wave pattern could be changed by the excluded electromagnetic field, the region where electromagnetic field is zero. This apparent non-local effect has been explained by mainly two salient interpretations called "the interpretation of electromagnetic potentials" and "the interpretation of interaction energy". In this paper the author reviews and investigates both the interpretations and analysis their differences. Then the author clarifies in details and extend the approach of interaction energy interpretation and argue that as quantum mechanics involved energy of quantum systems and electromagnetic energy contained in electromagnetic field, the natural and more physically acceptable interpretation of the effect should be "the interpretation of interaction energy".