Does the Aharonov–Bohm Effect Exist?

We draw a distinction between the Aharonov–Bohm phase shift and the Aharonov–Bohm effect. Although the Aharonov–Bohm phase shift occurring when an electron beam passes around a magnetic solenoid is well-verified experimentally, it is not clear whether this phase shift occurs because of classical forces or because of a topological effect occurring in the absence of classical forces as claimed by Aharonov and Bohm. The mathematics of the Schroedinger equation itself does not reveal the physical basis for the effect. However, the experimentally observed Aharonov–Bohm phase shift is of the same form as the shift observed due to electrostatic forces for which the consensus view accepts the role of the classical forces. The Aharonov–Bohm phase shift may well arise from classical electromagnetic forces which are simply more subtle in the magnetic case since they involve relativistic effects of the order v ² /c ² . Here we first review the experimentally observable differences between phenomena arising from classical forces and phenomena arising from the quantum topological effect suggested by Aharonov and Bohm. Second we point out that most discussions of the classical electromagnetic forces involved when a charged particle passes a solenoid are inaccurate because they omit the Faraday induction terms. The subtleties of the relativisitic v ² /c ² classical electromagnetic forces between a point charge and a solenoid have been explored by Coleman and Van Vleck in their analysis of the Shockley–James paradox; indeed, we point out that an analysis exactly parallel to that of Coleman and Van Vleck suggests that the Aharonov–Bohm phase shift is actually due to classical electromagnetic forces. Finally we note that electromagnetic velocity fields penetrate even excellent conductors in a form which is unfamiliar to many physicists. An ohmic conductor surrounding a solenoid does not screen out the magnetic field of the passing charge, but rather the time-integral of the magnetic field is an invariant; this time integral is precisely what is involved in the classical explanation of the Aharonov–Bohm phase shift. Thus the persistence of the Aharonov–Bohm phase shift when the solenoid is surrounded by a conductor does not exclude a classical force-based explanation for the phase shift. At present there is no experimental evidence for the Aharonov–Bohm effect.     

Coulomb Forces in Three Charged Particles Interacting via Stripping Nuclear Reactions

Coulomb forces are examined for three charged interacting particles following the Faddeev formalism. Application of stripping nuclear reactions is studied for ⁶Li projectile incident on ¹²C target with alpha particle transfer. Differential corss-sections are calculated. The results are found to be improved by about 12.41% due to the inclusion of the Coulomb forces.     

How to do better·than Brueckner-Hartree-Fock

A triple self-consistent Faddeev-Brueckner-Hartree-Fock method is shortly introduced. Its superiority over other self-consistent approaches is sketched.¹⁶O and⁴He are calculated in FBHF scheme with available realistic forces. It is suggested that two-body forces themselves cannot account for all structure effects satisfactorily.     

A comment on the common one-dimensional derivation of the van der Waals forces

In many physical text-books a simple one-dimensional model is used to derive the characteristic 1/R ⁷-dependence of the attractive van der Waals forces. We show that this calculation is wrong. The long range forces in this simple model are not attractive but repulsive proportional to 1/R ⁶. Only a three-dimensional calculation yields the correct behavior.     

Search for long-range forces by means of ultracold neutrons (1)

A method of using a gravitational spectrometer to search for long-range forces between neutrons and atoms is proposed. The constraints on the strength of long range forces within the range of 10⁻¹⁰–10⁻⁴ cm can be obtained from the experiments on measurements of the total cross section of interaction of ultracold neutrons with atoms of noble gases (He, Ne, Ar, ⁸⁶Kr) and the data on the coherent neutron scattering length of the nucleus. The first result of such type analysis is presented.     

Effect of tensor nucleon-nucleon forces on the nucleon-nucleus optical potential

In the approximation of unpolarized nuclear matter, the optical potential for nucleon-nucleus scattering is calculated on the basis of the effective Skyrme interaction with allowance for tensor nucleon-nucleon forces. It is shown that the tensor Skyrme forces make a significant contribution to the imaginary part of the optical potential. The effect of tensor nucleon-nucleon forces on the radial distribution of the imaginary part of the optical potential is investigated by considering the example of elastic neutron scattering by ⁴⁰Ca nuclei at scattering energies of about a few tens of MeV.     

Modern Diffraction Methods,edited by E.J. Mittemeijer and U. Welzel

By considering simple examples from the viewpoint of both classical electromagnetism and the special theory of relativity, it is shown that the magnetic forces between moving charges are of order v ²/c ² times the electric forces between the charges, where v is the velocity of the charges. The relevance of electric forces in the definition of the ampere is discussed.     

The peninsula of neutron nuclear stability in the vicinity of N = 258

The properties of extremely neutron-excessive nuclei with Z ?? 70, including the region of transuranium elements, are calculated beyond the previously theoretically known neutron drip line (NDL). The calculations are based on the Hartree-Fock approach using Skyrme forces (SkM*, SkI2, SLy4, Ska) with allowance for axial deformation and pairings in the BCS approximation. It is shown that the series of isotones with neutron number N = 258 outside of 2n NDL forms a peninsula of stable nuclei (PSN) with respect to the emission of one neutron. For SkM* forces, a PSN is formed by ³⁴⁴Rn, ³⁴⁶Ra, ³⁴⁸Th, and ³⁵⁰U nuclides.     

A microscopical DWBA description of the charge-exchange reactions (7Li, 7Be)

The charge-exchange reaction (⁷Li, ⁷Be is described in the frame of a microscopical DWBA with central effective forces. The transition density for ⁷Li-⁷Be is calculated in two ways: with a one-particle model and with a cluster model, taking full account of recoil effects. The formalism is used for the cases of (⁷Li, ⁷Be reactions with ⁶Li and ⁴⁰Ca. Further cross sections for reactions on ¹²C and ¹⁶O with $\text{E(}{}^7\text{Li) = 78 MeV}$ and excitation energies around 4.5 and 6.2 MeV, respectively, are compared to new data obtained at the Kurchatov Institute. Here particle-hole states in an oscillator model were used to characterize the heavy system. Angular distributions are well reproduced, but absolute cross sections are 6–7 times too small. This indicates that the assumption of a direct one-step process is correct, but that tensor forces should be included as a component of the effective nucleon-nucleon force.     

Phase Transitions in Nonideal Alkali- and Noble Gas Plasmas

In this paper the plasma composition of Cs- and Xe-plasmas was determined for temperatures between 3000 K (Cs) or 8000 K (Xe) and 25000 K and for free charge carrier densities between 10²³ m^?3 and 5. 10²⁸ m^?3. Besides the Coulomb forces we took into account also short range forces between the charged particles and between the atoms. Effects of degeneration were neglected. The thermodynamic stability is discussed, and the influence of the different interaction contributions between the particles on the border of the instability region is considered. Especially the Mott transition is dealt with.     

A dynamical model for projectile break-up and incomplete fusion

A classical dynamical model is presented for the reaction ²⁰Ne on ¹⁹⁷Au. ²⁰Ne is considered as a bound system of five alpha particles which individually interact with the target via a folding potential and frictional forces. Results for complete fusion, differential cross sections for the various possible ejectiles and coincidence cross sections are presented and compared to experiment.     

Comparison of the measured phase diagrams in the force-temperature plane for the unzipping of two different natural DNA sequences

In this work, we consider the critical force required to unzip two different naturally occurring sequences of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) at temperatures ranging from 20 ^°C to 50 ^°C, where one of the sequences has a 53% average guanine-cytosine (GC) content and the other has a 40% GC content. We demonstrate that the force required to separate the dsDNA of the 53% GC sequence into single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) is approximately 0.5 pN, or approximately 5% greater than the critical force required to unzip the 40% GC sequence at the same temperature. In the temperature range between 20 and 40 ^°C the measured critical forces correspond reasonably well to predictions based on a simple theoretical homopolymeric model, but at temperatures above 40 ^°C the measured critical forces are much smaller than the predicted forces. The correspondence between theory and experiment is not improved by using Monte Carlo simulations that consider the heteropolymeric nature of the sequences.     

Scattering of an atomic beam by a short light pulse

The observation of the scattering of sodium atoms by a short light pulse (≈ 10^?8 s) is treated. The pulse has the spatial structure of a standing wave. The particles are scattered at the expense of the forces of the stimulated light pressure (gradient forces). In a resonance field of the order of 10³ V/cm, the scattering angle is of the order of 0.01 rad.     

Effective nucleon-nucleon forces and interaction of light exotic nuclei with stable nuclei at low energies

The effect of the density dependence of effective nucleon-nucleon forces on the folded potential of the interactions of the light exotic nuclei ⁶He, ¹¹Li, ¹¹Be, and ⁸B with the stable nucleus ¹²C is studied, and the corresponding experimental data on the total reaction cross sections and on elastic scattering are analyzed. A semimicroscopic double-folding model featuring various density-dependent forces based on the M3Y interaction is used together with the nucleon densities as calculated within the density-functional method by using a unified set of parameters for all the above nuclei. It is shown that the angular distributions recently measured for elastic ⁶He scattering on ¹²C at an energy of 41.6 MeV per projectile nucleon and for elastic ¹¹Be scattering on ¹²C at an energy of 49.3 MeV per projectile nucleon can be described satisfactorily if the real part of the optical folded potential is supplemented with a surface term mimicking the contribution of the dynamical polarization potential.     

Calculation of the static and dynamic triaxial shapes of 24Mg

The Skyrme interaction is used in a Hartree-Fock calculation of ²⁴Mg with triaxial symmetry. A transition between axial and triaxial shapes is studied as a function of the spin-orbit strength. The effect of the other components of the interaction on the shape of ²⁴Mg is examined. Constrained Hartree-Fock calculations of the energy surface and the cranking mass parameter are used for the calculation of the intrinsic γ-vibration. The main result of the dynamical calculation is that despite the different equilibrium shapes obtained with the two forces SIII and SV, the triaxiality obtained by considering the zero-point γ-oscillation is essentially the same for both forces.     

The electromagnetic energy and momentum of finite charged bodies moving at constant velocity

It is shown that a purely electromagnetic, divergence-free tensorS ^ij , can be defined for any electrically charged body which is held in equilibrium by some cohesive force and moving at some constant velocity. This tensor appears to represent the electromagnetic energy-momentum of the body; the integral (1/c) ∝S ^ij dS _j (dS _j is the differential element of any spacelike hypersurface) iscM ₀ μ ⁱ the electromagnetic four-momentum of the system (M ₀ is the electromagnetic rest mass of the system,U _i is the four-velocity). The divergence-free property ofS ^ij depends only on Maxwell's equation and the condition of uniform motion. It is suggested that whatever the nature of the cohesive forces within such a system the total stress-energy tensor will, in effect, break up into two parts which are separately divergence-free: the purely electromagnetic tensor,S ^ij , and a tensor representing the energy-momentum of the cohesive forces. Just as it makes sense to speak of the electromagnetic mass of a system at rest without regard to the cohesive forces, it makes sense to talk about the electromagnetic momentum of the system, when it is moving at constant velocity, without reference to the cohesive forces.     

Casimir forces in models with non-trivial topology

The Casimir forces, acting on the parallel plates in models with the compact subspace are investigated for the case of a scalar field. The field obeys the Robin boundary conditions on the plates. Depending on the values of the coefficients in the boundary conditions, the forces can be either attractive or repulsive. In models with a homogeneous compact subspace, they are the same for both the plates. In special cases of the Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions, the Casimir forces are attractive. Proceeding from general results, two particular cases with the subspaces S¹ and S² are considered.     

Interatomic forces near a defect: The impurity-susceptibility method

A strongly perturbing defect in a metal, like a H⁺ particle, is not only a force centre repelling or attracting its neighbours but it modifies considerably the interatomic forces $\text{between}$ them. The relevant quantity determining the nature of these forces is, in metals, the dielectric susceptibility of the inhomogeneous impurity-in-jellium system. The absence of translational symmetry in the polarizability leads to a ‘bipolar’ screening and, thereby, to non-central interactions between the neighbouring atoms. Exact asymptotic formulae have been found for the independent-particle polarizability including bound and scattered states, assuming predominantly s-scattering at the impurity. A semi-quantitative study of the atomic interactions in the ‘impurity-in-jellium’ background is given for a simplified theoretical model which allows for an analytic approach and is, nevertheless, expected to reproduce the main features of forces in a dilute hydride system.     

Electromagnetic Observables in Few-Nucleon Systems

The electromagnetic probe is a very valuable tool to study the dynamics of few nucleons. It can be very helpful in shedding light on the not yet fully understood three-nucleon forces. We present an update on the theoretical studies of electromagnetic induced reactions, such as photo-disintegration and electron scattering off ⁴He. We will show that they potentially represent a tool to discriminate among three-nucleon forces. Then, we will discuss the charge radius and the nuclear electric polarizability of the ⁶He halo nucleus.     

A New Model of Crater Formation by Arc Spots

The forces acting on the cathode arc spot surface and removing the molten layer from the crater bottom are composed mainly of the ion pressure, the neutral gas pressure and the evaporation recoil whilst electrostatic forces diminish the effective pressure that is in the order of some 10⁹ dyn/cm². The motion of the liquid layer caused by these forces is treated with the hydrodynamic equations. A simple solution exists in the special case of constant layer depth, that is achieved a few nanoseconds after spot formation. From this model the layer depths (some 0.1 μm) and the ejection velocities at the crater rims (few 10⁴ cm/s) are calculated. The real spot velocity agrees with the velocity of the melting front below the spot surface, but because of the stochastic character of the spot motion the apparent velocity decreases with growing observation time intervals Δt according to Δt^?1/2.