Dynamics of a classical Hall system driven by a time-dependent Aharonov–Bohm flux

We study the dynamics of a classical particle moving in a punctured plane under the influence of a strong homogeneous magnetic field, an electrical background, and driven by a time-dependent singular flux tube through the hole. We exhibit a striking classical (de)localization effect: in the far past the trajectories are spirals around a bound center; the particle moves inward towards the flux tube loosing kinetic energy. After hitting the puncture it becomes “conducting”: the motion is a cycloid around a center whose drift is outgoing, orthogonal to the electric field, diffusive, and without energy loss. PACS numbers: 45.50.Pk Particle orbits classical mechanics, 45.50.-j Dynamics and kinematics of a particle and a system of particles, 73.43.-f Quantum Hall effects, 73.50.Gr Charge carriers: generation, recombination, lifetime, trapping, mean free paths