Energy-level shift of quantum systems via the scalar electric Aharonov-Bohm effect
R. Y. Chiao, Harold Hart, Michael Scheibner, Jay E. Sharping, Nader Inan, Douglas Singleton, Michael E. Tobar
Abstract
A version of the electric Aharonov-Bohm effect is proposed where the quantum system which picks up the Aharonov-Bohm phase is confined to a Faraday cage with a time-varying spatially uniform scalar potential. The electric and magnetic fields in this region are effectively zero for the entire period of the experiment. The observable consequence of this version of the electric Aharonov-Bohmn effect is to shift the energy levels of the quantum system rather than shift the fringes of the two-slit interference pattern. We show a strong mathematical connection between this version of the scalar electric $AB$ effect and the ac Stark effect.