Experimental Observation of Time-Delays Associated with Electric Matteucci–Pozzi Phase Shifts

In 1985, Matteucci and Pozzi (1985 Phys. Rev. Lett. 54 2469) demonstrated the presence of a quantum mechanical phase shift for electrons passing a pair of oppositely charged biprism wires. For this experimental arrangement no forces deflect the electrons. Consequently, the result was reported as a non-local type-2 Aharonov–Bohm effect. Boyer (2002 Found. Phys. 32 41–50; 1987 Nuovo Cimento B 100 685–701) showed theoretically that the Matteucci–Pozzi effect could be associated with a time delay caused by a classical force. We present experimental data that confirm the presence of a time delay. This result is in contrast to the situation for the original magnetic Aharonov–Bohm effect. On similar theoretical grounds, Boyer has also associated classical forces and time delays with the magnetic Aharonov–Bohm effect. Recently, we reported the absence of such observable time delays. The contrast with our current work illustrates the subtle nature of Aharonov–Bohm effects