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The transition from quantum field theory to one-particle quantum mechanics and a proposed interpretation of Aharonov–Bohm effect

The transition from quantum field theory to one-particle quantum mechanics and a proposed interpretation of Aharonov–Bohm effect
The transition from quantum field theory to one-particle quantum mechanics and a proposed interpretation of Aharonov–Bohm effect

In this article, we demonstrate a sense in which the one-particle quantum mechanics (OPQM) and the classical electromagnetic four-potential arise from the quantum field theory (QFT). In addition, the classical Maxwell equations are derived from the QFT scattering process, while both classical electromagnetic fields and potentials serve as mathematical tools to approximate the interactions among elementary particles described by QFT physics. Furthermore, a plausible interpretation of the Aharonov–Bohm (AB) effect is raised within the QFT framework. We provide a quantum treatment of the source of electromagnetic potentials and argue that the underlying mechanism in the AB effect can be understood via interactions among electrons described by QFT theory where the interactions are mediated by virtual photons.

Aharonov–Bohm effect, One particle quantum mechanics, Quantum electrodynamics (QED), Quantum to classical transitions
0015-9018
1-16
Li, Benliang
b38a09b8-9d5b-46cc-b5e5-0e81825882dc
Hewak, Daniel W.
87c80070-c101-4f7a-914f-4cc3131e3db0
Wang, Qi Jie
91220429-39a1-459a-9dfb-20fb90bfa974
Li, Benliang
b38a09b8-9d5b-46cc-b5e5-0e81825882dc
Hewak, Daniel W.
87c80070-c101-4f7a-914f-4cc3131e3db0
Wang, Qi Jie
91220429-39a1-459a-9dfb-20fb90bfa974

Li, Benliang, Hewak, Daniel W. and Wang, Qi Jie (2018) The transition from quantum field theory to one-particle quantum mechanics and a proposed interpretation of Aharonov–Bohm effect. Foundations of Physics, 1-16. (doi:10.1007/s10701-018-0191-y).

Record type: Article

Abstract

In this article, we demonstrate a sense in which the one-particle quantum mechanics (OPQM) and the classical electromagnetic four-potential arise from the quantum field theory (QFT). In addition, the classical Maxwell equations are derived from the QFT scattering process, while both classical electromagnetic fields and potentials serve as mathematical tools to approximate the interactions among elementary particles described by QFT physics. Furthermore, a plausible interpretation of the Aharonov–Bohm (AB) effect is raised within the QFT framework. We provide a quantum treatment of the source of electromagnetic potentials and argue that the underlying mechanism in the AB effect can be understood via interactions among electrons described by QFT theory where the interactions are mediated by virtual photons.

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The transition from quantum field theory to one-particle quantum mechanics and a proposed interpretation of Aharonov-Bohm effect - Accepted Manuscript
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Accepted/In Press date: 15 June 2018
e-pub ahead of print date: 22 June 2018
Keywords: Aharonov–Bohm effect, One particle quantum mechanics, Quantum electrodynamics (QED), Quantum to classical transitions

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 422302
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/422302
ISSN: 0015-9018
PURE UUID: c0fe9e8f-6bcf-4915-a5d2-0dd735a84972
ORCID for Daniel W. Hewak: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-2093-5773
ORCID for Qi Jie Wang: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-2645-5807

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Date deposited: 20 Jul 2018 16:30
Last modified: 06 Jun 2024 04:10

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Contributors

Author: Benliang Li
Author: Daniel W. Hewak ORCID iD
Author: Qi Jie Wang ORCID iD

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