Classical fields and quantum time-evolution in the Aharonov–Bohm effect

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• 作者：James Mattingly
• 关键词：Aharonov– ; Bohm effect ; Electrodynamics ; Gauge theory ; Field theory
• 刊名：Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics
• 出版年：2007
• 出版时间：December 2007
• 年：2007
• 卷：38
• 期：4
• 页码：888-905
• 全文大小：354 K

文摘

I display, by explicit construction, an account of the Aharonov–Bohm effect that employs only locally operative electrodynamical field strengths. The terms in the account are the components of the magnetic field of the solenoid at the location of electron, and even though the total field vanishes there, the components do not. That such a construction can be carried out demonstrates at least that whatever virtues they have for understanding and constructing new field theories, gauge fields in general make no metaphysical demands, and commit us to no novel ontology. I reflect on the significance of this for our understanding of quantum time-evolution and conclude that we should think of quantized matter as interacting individually with the other matter in the systems of which it is a part.