The acceleration of a neutron in a static electric field

We show that when a non-relativistic neutron travels in a static electric field, the acceleration vector operator is perpendicular to the velocity operator. Kinetic energy is conserved. A spin-dependent field term in the canonical momentum gives rise to a non-dispersive contribution to the quantum m...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physics letters. A 2012-06, Vol.376 (30-31), p.2096-2099
Main Author: Cappelletti, R.L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acceleration
Aharonov–Casher phase
Electric fields
Electrostatic field
Kinetic energy
Magnetic fields
Magnetostatic field
Mathematical analysis
Neutron
Operators
Solid state physics
Vectors (mathematics)
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Summary:We show that when a non-relativistic neutron travels in a static electric field, the acceleration vector operator is perpendicular to the velocity operator. Kinetic energy is conserved. A spin-dependent field term in the canonical momentum gives rise to a non-dispersive contribution to the quantum mechanical (Aharonov–Casher) phase. This motion differs from that in a static magnetic field which has no field term in the canonical momentum and no conservation of kinetic energy. For the geometry of the Aharonov–Casher effect, there is no acceleration, while in Mott–Schwinger scattering, the acceleration causes a spin-dependent change in neutron direction. ► Acceleration of a neutron in an E field is orthogonal to velocity. KE is conserved. ► For the Aharonov–Casher (AC) effect, acceleration is 0. ► The AC phase arises from the field term in the canonical momentum. ► In a static B field there is no field term in the canonical momentum. ► In a static B field KE is exchanged with Zeeman energy to conserve energy.
ISSN:0375-9601
1873-2429
DOI:10.1016/j.physleta.2012.05.026