Exploring the AB effect through observations of an N-type system

The Aharanov-Bohm (AB) effect represents a purely quantum phenomenon in which a charged particle interacts with an electromagnetic potential while existing within an environment devoid of both magnetic and electric fields. This interaction stems from the particle's connection to the electromagnetic potential through the complex phase of its wave function. The AB effect can be dissected into magnetic vector and electric scalar potential components. While the vector AB effect has been experimentally validated through double-slit interference experiments involving a constant magnetic flux behind the slits, an isolated electric scalar AB effect experiment has not been realized. To address this, we present an experimental apparatus to investigate the electric scalar AB effect, employing hydrogen-like atoms contained within a Faraday cage. To enhance the sensitivity of our apparatus we use a triple-beam saturated absorption spectroscopy (SAS) technique for manipulating a N-type 4 level system. This system comprises two ground states and two excited states resulting from the combination of Λ and V-type three level systems into a four-level system. This innovative approach affords us tunability in the energy levels of the system and the width of the spectral features, ultimately enhancing our ability to detect the scalar AB effect.