A pragmatic approach to the problem of the self-adjoint extension of Hamilton operators with the Aharonov-Bohm potential

Abstract

We consider the problem of self-adjoint extension of Hamilton operators for charged quantum particles in the pure Aharonov-Bohm potential (infinitely thin solenoid). We present a pragmatic approach to the problem based on the orthogonalization of the radial solutions for different quantum numbers. Then we discuss a model of a scalar particle with a magnetic moment which allows to explain why the self-adjoint extension contains arbitrary parameters and give a physical interpretation.

8 pages, LaTeX, to appear in J. Phys. A