Aharonov-Bohm effect
noun
Aha·ro·nov-Bohm effect ˌä-hä-ˈrō-ˌnȯv-ˈbōm- 
physics
: the correlation between the interference (see interference sense 3) pattern of a beam of electrons that has been split and subsequently recombined and a magnetic field that the beams bypassed while separated
Note: A beam of electrons can be separated and sent on two paths around the outside of an area that contains a magnetic field. The paths are recombined after passing the magnetic field. The recombined beam will display an interference pattern (from the interaction of the two paths) that is linked to the nature of the magnetic field that the paths went past, even though they did not pass directly through it. The relationship between the interference pattern and the magnetic field is called the Aharonov-Bohm effect.
Word History
Etymology
after Yakir Aharonov *1932 Israeli physicist & David Bohm †1992 American-born British physicist
First Known Use
1961, in the meaning defined above