In 1959, Aharonov and Bohm published a fundamental paper in Physical Review which pointed out the QM implications of potentials as the real entities, while force fields were derived effects. They showed that, even in the presence of zero EM force fields, the potentials may still exist and produce real effects in physical systems. They also suggested experiments to prove these predictions.

Interference of the potentials is the key mechanism producing real effects in charged particle systems, even in the presence of zero E-field and zero B-field. Unfortunately the AB paper did not address the issue of zero-summed systems of EM force fields as one way of producing artificial potentials having unique characteristics

At any rate, the "AB effect," as it came to be called, was rather hotly resisted and debated over the years, until finally it has generally been accepted as proven in 1986. The principle represents a violation of both classical mechanics and classical electromagnetics. It is required, however, by quantum mechanics and quantum electrodynamics. And experiment has proved it.

(See Y. Aharonov and D. Bohm, "Significance of Electromagnetic Potentials in the Quantum Theory," Physical Review, Second Series, 115(3), Aug. 1, 1959, p. 485-491.).

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