MONTE CARLO EVALUATION OF THE AHARONOV-BOHM EFFECT

The electron propagator in the Aharonov-Bohm effect is investigated using the Feynman path integral formalism. The calculation of the propagator is effected using a variation of the Metropolis Monte Carlo algorithm. Unlike “exact” calculations, our approach permits us to include a nonvanishing solenoid radius. We investigate the dependence of the resulting interference pattern on the magnetic field as well as the solenoid radius. Our results agree with the exact case in the limit of an infinitesimally small solenoid radius.