Electromagnetic momentum, magnetic model of light and effects of the Aharonov-Bohm type

G. Spavieri

doi:10.1140/epjd/e2006-00089-y

EPJ

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2024 Impact factor 1.5

Atomic, Molecular, Optical and Plasma Physics

Eur. Phys. J. D 39, 157-166 (2006)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2006-00089-y

Electromagnetic momentum, magnetic model of light and effects of the Aharonov-Bohm type

G. Spavieri^a

Centro de Física Fundamental, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, 5101, Venezuela

Corresponding author: ^a spavieri@ula.ve

Received: 12 January 2006
Published online: 20 April 2006

Abstract

The wave equation for light propagation in slowly moving media, which is analogous to that of quantum effects of the Aharonov-Bohm type, is characterized by the interaction momentum ${\bf Q}$ , related to the flow ${\bf u}$ . In effects of the Aharonov-Bohm type the interaction momentum ${\bf Q}$ is related to the momentum of the electromagnetic (em) fields, that characterizes an em flow ${\bf u}$ . It is shown that in both cases ${\bf Q}$ has the same physical origin. Calculation of the interaction em momentum ${\bf Q}$ for the light wave dragged by the flow yields exactly the Fresnel-Fizeau momentum. These results corroborate the validity of the magnetic model for light and highlight the role and relevance of the em momentum in new effects of classical and quantum physics. A tentative test of an astrophysical Fizeau-Aharonov-Bohm effect is discussed.