A Strange Quantum Effect Predicted in 1959 In everyday physics, a charged particle responds to the electric and magnetic fields it encounters.
Such models are particularly important in particle physics and high-energy physics, where scientists study the basic particles and interactions that make up the universe.
"Rather than having matter evolve in a fixed background, the matter and gauge field become part of the same quantum dynamics."
A Quantum Effect That Stops Particle Motion With their simulated loop in place, the scientists examined how a matter particle moved between locations through a process known as quantum tunneling.
The particle had two possible paths around the loop, but the magnetic flux changed their relative quantum phases.