Currents in Normal-Metal Rings Exhibit Aharonov–Bohm Effect

Abstract

Ever since Yakir Aharonov and David Bohm pointed out, in 1959, that electrons propagating around a magnetic field through a field-free vacuum should exhibit a quite surprising interference effect, its experimental and theoretical investigation has been contributing to our understanding of the fundamental character of the quantum theory. The recent appearance of this Aharonov–Bohm effect in a rather different context may eventually have a profound effect on our view of the solid state on a “mesoscopic” scale—between the microscopic and the truly macroscopic.