Gauge theoretic equivalence principle and charges

The analysis of the gauge principle as a mere passive symmetry requirement leads to the conclusion that the connection term in the covariant derivative is flat and that local phase transformations are without any empirical significance. This undermines the force of the gauge principle and suggests the possibility of an alternative principal argument in the foundations of gauge theories. On the other hand, the Aharonov-Bohm effect shows the physical significance of the non-trivial holonomy of a flat connection. On this basis the proposal of a new kind of charge, the phase charge, is made, understood as the coupling strength of the particle to the holonomy. The equivalence of phase and usual field charge can in principle be tested experimentally in terms of an Aharonov-Bohm effect with muons or tauons