  A topological defect in the form of the Abrikosov-Nielsen-Olesen vortex is
considered as a gauge-flux-carrying tube that is impenetrable for quantum
matter. Charged scalar matter field is quantized in the vortex background with
the perfectly reflecting (Dirichlet) boundary condition imposed at the side
surface of the vortex. We show that a current circulating around the vortex and
a magnetic field directed along the vortex are induced in the vacuum, if the
Compton wavelength of the matter field exceeds considerably the transverse size
of the vortex. The vacuum current and magnetic field are periodic in the value
of the gauge flux of the vortex, providing a quantum-field-theoretical
manifestation of the Aharonov-Bohm effect. The total flux of the induced vacuum
magnetic field attains noticeable finite values even for the Compton wavelength
of the matter field exceeding the transverse size of the vortex by just three
orders of magnitude.

High Energy Physics - Theory