Aharonov--Bohm and Aharonov--Casher effects in meso-scopic physics: A brief review

Abstract

We briefly review the theoretical formulations and applications of the Aharonov--Bohm effect and the Aharonov--Casher effect with emphasis on mesoscopic physics. Topics relating to the Aharonov--Bohm effect include: locality, periodicity, non-integrable phase factors, Abelian gauge theory, interference, the spectrum and persistent current of electrons on a ring pierced by a magnetic field, Onsager reciprocity relations, and Aharonov--Bohm interferometer. Topics relating to the Aharonov--Casher effect include: a magnetic dipole in an electric field, locality, periodicity, non-Abelian gauge invariance, SU(2) non-integrable phase factors, spin-orbit coupling, Pauli equation, Rashba Hamiltonian, Aharonov--Casher interferometer, conductance and polarization in two-channel systems due to the Aharonov--Casher effect.