Eur. Phys. J. D (2012) 66: 38
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2011-20264-3

Regular Article

Macro-scale observation of curl-free vector potential: A manifestation of quantum modulation of the de Broglie wave

¹ Physical Research Laboratory, Navrangpura, 380009 Ahmedabad, India
² Udaipur Solar Observatory, Physical Research Laboratory, Badi Road, Udaipur 313001, India

^a e-mail: ramkvarma@gmail.com

Received: 6 May 2011
Received in final form: 22 November 2011
Published online: 24 February 2012

Abstract

Experimental results are presented here reporting the detection of a curl-free vector potential on the macro-scale as contrasted with the detection on the micro-scale à la Aharonov-Bohm. Such a detection is attributed to the ‘quantum modulation’ of the plane wave state of the guiding centre motion of a charged particle in a magnetic field, which is generated concomitantly with the excitation of its Landau levels in a scattering episode, through the mechanism of quantum entanglement between the parallel and perpendicular degrees of freedom of the particle. Such a ‘quantum modulation’ is also a matter wave, but on the macro-scale, and leads to the ‘sensing’ of the curl-free vector potential on the macro-scale. Thus while the Aharonov-Bohm effect is attributed to the sensing of the curl-free vector potential by the de Broglie wave, its sensing on the macro-scale is attributed to the modulation of the de Broglie wave.