  Electro-static potentials for samples with the topology of a ring and
penetrated by an Aharonov-Bohm flux are discussed. The sensitivity of the
electron-density distribution to small variations in the flux generates an
effective electro-static potential which is itself a periodic function of flux.
We investigate a simple model in which the flux sensitive potential leads to a
persistent current which is enhanced compared to that of a loop of
non-interacting electrons. For sample geometries with contacts the sensitivity
of the electro-static potential to flux leads to a flux-induced capacitance.
This capacitance gives the variation in charge due to an increment in flux. The
flux-induced capacitance is contrasted with the electro-chemical capacitance
which gives the variation in charge due to an increment in an electro-chemical
potential. The discussion is formulated in terms of characteristic functions
which give the variation of the electro-static potential in the interior of the
conductor due to an increment in the external control parameters (flux,
electro-chemical potentials). Paper submitted to the 16th Nordic Semiconductor
Meeting, Laugarvatan, Iceland, June 12-15, 1994. The proceedings will be
published in Physica Scripta.
