Concept of nonintegrable phase factors and global formulation of gauge fields

Abstract

Through an examination of the Bohm-Aharonov experiment an intrinsic and complete description of electromagnetism in a space-time region is formulated in terms of a nonintegrable phase factor. This concept, in its global ramifications, is studied through an examination of Dirac's magnetic monopole field. Generalizations to non-Abelian groups are carried out, and result in identification with the mathematical concept of connections on principal fiber bundles.