Aharonov-Bohm and Aharonov-Casher Effects: Connections to Dynamics of Topological Singularities

Abstract

We analyze the physical processes involved in the Aharonov-Bohm (A-B) and the Aharonov-Casher (A-C) effects, showing that an incomplete A-B effect knowledge can lead a totally wrong conclusion on the A-C effect. Based on this we demonstrate that the Magnus force, the net force, is the only transverse force on a moving vortex, in analogous to the net charge in A-C effect. This conclusion has been arrived both theoretically and experimentally.