A cornerstone of quantum mechanics can be fully explained using old-fashioned classical physics if we allow a single number to be complex.

The Aharonov-Bohm effect is replicable through classical electromagnetism when the four-potential is treated as a complex value. This effect was previously considered a uniquely quantum phenomenon that proved the existence of hidden fields. This research suggests that what we thought was a quantum mystery is actually a general wave property found in classical theory. It bridges a major gap between the two most successful theories in physics. This rethink could change how we design sensors and quantum computers by using classical principles to control quantum states. It proves that the line between classical and quantum is thinner than we thought.