Dynamics of the Aharonov-Bohm effect

Abstract

The time-dependent Dirac equation is solved using the three-dimensional Finite Difference-Time Domain (FDTD) method. The dynamics of the electron wave packet in a vector potential is studied in the arrangements associated with the Aharonov-Bohm effect. The solution of the Dirac equation showed a change in the velocity of the electron wave packet even in a region where no fields of the unperturbed solenoid acted on the electron. The solution of the Dirac equation qualitatively agreed with the prediction of classical dynamics under the assumption that the dynamics was defined by the conservation of generalized or canonical momentum of the electron.