Vacuum Polarization of a Charged Massless Scalar Field on Cosmic String Spacetime in the Presence of a Magnetic Field

In this paper we consider a charged massless scalar quantum field operator in the spacetime of an idealized cosmic string, i.e., an infinitely long, straight and static cosmic string, which presents a magnetic field confined in a cylindrical tube of finite radius. Three distinct situations are taking into account in this analysis: {\it{i)}} a homogeneous field inside the tube, {\it{ii)}} a magnetic field proportional to $1/r$ and {\it{iii)}} a cylindrical shell with $\delta$-function. In these three cases the axis of the infinitely long tube of radius $R$ coincides with the cosmic string. In order to study the vacuum polarization effects outside the tube, we explicitly calculate the Euclidean Green function associated with this system for the three above situations, considering points in the region outside the tube.Comment: 26 pages, LaTex format, 3 figure

A pragmatic approach to the problem of the self-adjoint extension of Hamilton operators with the Aharonov-Bohm potential

We consider the problem of self-adjoint extension of Hamilton operators for charged quantum particles in the pure Aharonov-Bohm potential (infinitely thin solenoid). We present a pragmatic approach to the problem based on the orthogonalization of the radial solutions for different quantum numbers. Then we discuss a model of a scalar particle with a magnetic moment which allows to explain why the self-adjoint extension contains arbitrary parameters and give a physical interpretation.Comment: 8 pages, LaTeX, to appear in J. Phys.

Perturbative Study of Bremsstrahlung and Pair-Production by Spin-1/2 Particles in the Aharonov-Bohm Potential

In the presence of an external Aharonov-Bohm potential, we investigate the two QED processes of the emission of a bremsstrahlung photon by an electron, and the production of an electron-positron pair by a single photon. Calculations are carried out using the Born approximation within the framework of covariant perturbation theory to lowest non-vanishing order in \alpha. The matrix element for each process is derived, and the corresponding differential cross-section is calculated. In the non-relativistic limit, the resulting angular and spectral distributions and some polarization properties are considered, and compared to results of previous works.Comment: 15 pages, RevTex 4, 2 figures, submitted for publicatio

Fluctuations in the current and energy densities around a magnetic flux carrying cosmic string

We calculate the fluctuations in the current and energy densities for the case of a quantized, minimally coupled, massless, complex scalar field around a straight and infinitesimally thin cosmic string carrying magnetic flux. At zero temperature, we evaluate the fluctuations in the current and energy densities for arbitrary flux and deficit angle. At a finite temperature, we evaluate the fluctuations in the energy density for the special case wherein the flux is absent and the deficit angle equals $\pi$. We find that, quite generically, the dimensionless ratio of the variance to the mean-squared values of the current and energy densities are of order unity which suggests that the fluctuations around cosmic strings can be considered to be large.Comment: RevTeX, 13 Pages, 3 Figure

Radiative Corrections to the Aharonov-Bohm Scattering

We consider the scattering of relativistic electrons from a thin magnetic flux tube and perturbatively calculate the order $\alpha$, radiative correction, to the first order Born approximation. We show also that the second order Born amplitude vanishes, and obtain a finite inclusive cross section for the one-body scattering which incorporates soft photon bremsstrahlung effects. Moreover, we determine the radiatively corrected Aharonov-Bohm potential and, in particular, verify that an induced magnetic field is generated outside of the flux tube.Comment: 14 pages, revtex, 3 figure

Polyhedral Cosmic Strings

Quantum field theory is discussed in M\"obius corner kaleidoscopes using the method of images. The vacuum average of the stress-energy tensor of a free field is derived and is shown to be a simple sum of straight cosmic string expressions, the strings running along the edges of the corners. It does not seem possible to set up a spin-half theory easily.Comment: 15 pages, 4 text figures not include

Scalar Pair Production in the Aharonov-Bohm Potential

In the framework of QED, scalar pair production by a single linearly polarized high-energy photon in the presence of an external Aharonov-Bohm potential is investigated. The exact scattering solutions of the Klein-Gordon equation in cylindrically symmetric field are constructed and used to write the first order transition amplitude. The matrix elements and the corresponding differential scattering cross-section are calculated. The pair production at both the nonrelativistic and the ultrarelativistic limits is discussed.Comment: 13 pages, 1 figur