Is the Aharonov-Bohm effect local? (Q2724966)

Conclusions: The Aharonov-Bohm effect arises from a quantum mechanical interaction between electrons and (electro)magnetism in a region that would classically be regarded as free of (electro)magnetic fields. It was predicted by nonrelativistic quantum mechanics and has been confirmed by experiment. But on no interpretation does quantum mechanics give a completely local explanation of the effect. On some interpretations, the quantum mechanical explanation violates a principle of local action, while on others it violates a principle of separability. There is no completely local quantum field-theoretic explanation, despite the fact that both electrons and electromagnetism are there represented by local quantized fields that interact at each space-time point. Nor is there any local explanation of generalizations of the \(A-B\) effect to non-Abelian gauge theories. While the interpretation of quantum mechanics remains controversial, and even our best confirmed theories remain conjectural, it seems reasonable to conclude that it is the Aharonov-Bohm effect itself, and not merely our current theoretical accounts of it, that is nonlocal.NEWLINENEWLINEFor the entire collection see [Zbl 0964.00052].