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A bold capital A, a field whose curl is the magnetic field.
Also known as: Vector potential, A field, Magnetic potential
The vector potential was introduced as a calculational aid with no physical meaning, and the Aharonov–Bohm effect later showed that it does have one: an electron's phase shifts in a region where A is non-zero and B is zero. It is not uniquely defined — adding any gradient leaves B unchanged.
Denotes the magnetic vector potential, whose curl gives the magnetic flux density.
Contexts: Laboratory
Is not unique: adding the gradient of any scalar function leaves the magnetic field unchanged, which is gauge freedom.
Contexts: Laboratory
Has observable consequences through the Aharonov–Bohm effect, despite having been introduced as a mathematical convenience.
Contexts: Laboratory
A bold capital letter A, two diagonal strokes meeting at a point with a horizontal crossbar.