The Crucial Role of Inert Source in the Magnetic Aharonov-Bohm Effect

Abstract

The role of the inert magnetic source used in the Tonomura experiment that has confirmed the magnetic Aharonov-Bohm effect is discussed. For this purpose, an analysis of a thought experiment is carried out. Here the permanent magnet is replaced by a classical source which is made of an ideal coil. A detailed calculation of this noninert source proves that in this case the effect disappears. This outcome provides another support for the crucial role of an inert source in the Aharonov-Bohm effect. A new aspect of quantum nonlocality is pointed out.