Aharonov-Bohm and other Cyclic Phenomena

James Hamilton (auth.)3540626476, 9783540626473

The Aharonov-Bohm effect is associated with cyclic motion. It is one of a number of anholonomic effects, and this means that the dynamical description depends on the current position of the system and on the path by which it reached that position. An example of an anholonomic effect is Foucault’s famous pendulum, which simply demonstrates the Earth’s rotation. The Sagnac effect – a light beam passing around a rotated system of mirrors – is another example. Modern dynamical developments such as Hannay’s angle and Berry’s phase are further useful examples.

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Table of contents :
Introduction….Pages 1-3
Motion around a solenoid….Pages 5-20
Generalization of the Aharonov-Bohm effect….Pages 21-33
Classical physics and the adiabatic principle….Pages 35-43
Problems with, and criticisms of, experiments and the AB effect itself….Pages 45-65
Accuracy of flux measurements….Pages 67-79
Phenomena similar to the magnetic Aharonov-Bohm effect….Pages 81-86
Other phenomena involving movement on a closed circuit….Pages 87-124