The Classical Aharonov-Bohm Interaction as a Relativity Paradox

Abstract

The situation of a charged particle passing down the symmetry axis through a magnetic toroid presents a relativity paradox; different inertial frames suggest different forces on the charge and on the toroid due to the unperturbed systems. We review the charge-toroid interaction and suggest that the magnetic Aharonov-Bohm situation is misunderstood because of unfamiliarity with the acceleration fields following from the Darwin Lagrangian, which go unmentioned in recent textbooks of classical electromagnetism.