Comment on Macroscopic Test of the Aharonov-Bohm Effect

Abstract

In this Comment it is shown that it cannot be argued that in the magnetic AB effect there is no force acting on the particle, i.e., that the observed phase shift is entirely due to nonzero vector potential. In stationary resistive conductors carrying constant currents there are quasistatic surface charges, which generate not only the electric field inside the wire driving the current, but also a static electric field outside it. These external static electric fields have nothing to do with Boyer's force picture and with his result for the existence of a time delay.