Geometric phase of a moving dipole under a magnetic field at a distance

Abstract

We predict a geometric quantum phase shift of a moving electric dipole in the presence of an external magnetic field at a distance. On the basis of the Lorentz-covariant field interaction approach, we show that a geometric phase appears under the condition that the dipole is moving in the field-free region, which is distinct from the topological He-McKellar-Wilkens phase generated by a direct overlap of the dipole and the field. We discuss the experimental feasibility of detecting this phase with atomic interferometry and argue that detection of this phase would result in a deeper understanding of the locality in quantum electromagnetic interaction.

5 pages, 2 figures