Feynman’s proof of Maxwell equations and Yang’s unification of electromagnetic and gravitational Aharonov–Bohm effects

Abstract

Feynman’s unpublished proof of the Maxwell and Lorentz equations, discovered in 1948, was published by Dyson in 1990, together with editorial comments to place the proof into historical context. The proof indicated that the only possible fields that can consistently act on a quantum mechanical particle were gauge fields. Yang’s proof of the Lorentz equation, given in 1983 on the occasion of Tonomura’s experimental confirmation of the Aharonov–Bohm effect, related the electromagnetic and gravitational Aharonov–Bohm effects with the gauge fields. Yang’s discussion, including a remark about Einstein’s objection to Weyl’s original idea of gauge (scale) fields, is given in the context of current research programs for the gauge unification of fundamental forces.