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

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.