Semiclassical Explanation of the Matteucci-Pozzi and Aharonov-Bohm Phase Shifts

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that classical electromagnetic forces can explain the observed phase shifts in electron interference experiments involving electric and magnetic dipoles, challenging the notion that these shifts are purely quantum phenomena.

Contribution

It provides a semiclassical explanation for the Matteucci-Pozzi and Aharonov-Bohm phase shifts, showing classical forces can account for these effects.

Findings

Classical forces reproduce the observed phase shifts.

Electromagnetic forces explain interference pattern changes.

Challenges the purely quantum interpretation of phase shifts.

Abstract

Classical electromagnetic forces can account for the experimentally observed phase shifts seen in an electron interference pattern when a line of electric dipoles or a line of magnetic dipoles (a solenoid) is placed between the electron beams forming the interference pattern.