The rovibrational Aharonov-Bohm effect

Abstract

Another manifestation of the Aharonov-Bohm effect is introduced to chemistry, in fact to nuclear dynamics and high-resolution molecular spectroscopy. As demonstrated, the overall rotation of a symmetric-top molecule influences the dynamics of an internal vibrational motion in a way that is analogous to the presence of a solenoid carrying magnetic flux. To a good approximation, the low-energy rovibrational energy-level structure of the quasistructural molecular ion H5+ can be understood entirely in terms of this effect.