Global effects due to cosmic defects in Kaluza-Klein theory

Using Kaluza-Klein theory we study the quantum mechanics of a scalar particle in the background of a magnetic cosmic string and in the background of a chiral cosmic string. We show that the wave functions, the phase shifts, and scattering amplitudes associated with the particle depend on the global features of those spacetimes. These dependences represent gravitational analogues of the well-known Aharonov-Bohm effect. In addition, we discuss the Landau levels in the presence of a cosmic string in the framework of Kaluza-Klein theory. [S0556-2821(99)03610-3].