July 22, 2004
Magnetic monopoles form an inspiring chapter of theoretical physics, covering a variety of surprising subjects. We review their role in non-abelian gauge theories. An expose of quite exquisite physics derived from a hypothetical particle species, because the fact remains that in spite of ever more tempting arguments from theory, monopoles have never reared their head in experiment. For many relevant particulars, references to the original literature are provided.
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April 13, 2012
The existence of magnetic monopoles is predicted by many theories of particle physics beyond the Standard Model. However, in spite of extensive searches, there is no experimental or observational sign of them. I review the role of magnetic monopoles in quantum field theory and discuss their implications for particle physics and cosmology. I also highlight their differences and similarities with monopoles found in frustrated magnetic systems, and discuss how experiments carrie...
July 30, 2004
We discuss quantum mechanical and topological aspects of nonabelian monopoles. Related recent results on nonabelian vortices are also mentioned.
February 13, 2007
Non-Abelian monopoles are present in the fully quantum mechanical low-energy effective action of many solvable supersymmetric theories. They behave perfectly as pointlike particles carrying non-Abelian dual magnetic charges. They play a crucial role in confinement and in dynamical symmetry breaking in these theories. There is a natural identification of these excitations within the semiclassical approach, which involves the flavor symmetry in an essential manner. We review, i...
July 17, 2002
Magnetic monopoles having non-Abelian charges have been found recently to play a crucial role in the infrared in a class of supersymmetric gauge theories. We argue that these "dual quarks" can naturally be identified with the non-Abelian magnetic monopoles of the type first discussed by Goddard, Nuyts and Olive. Our argument is based on a few simple observations as regards to their charge structure, flavor quantum numbers, and some general properties of electromagnetic dualit...
January 2, 2001
In this brief note, we argue that the elusive magnetic monopole arises due to the strong magnetic effects arising from the non commutative space time structure at small scales. This would also explain why the monopole has eluded detection even after seventy years.
April 13, 2012
One of the most basic properties of magnetism is that a magnet always has two poles, north and south, which cannot be separated into isolated poles, i.e., magnetic monopoles. However, there are strong theoretical arguments why magnetic monopoles should exist. In spite of extensive searches they have not been found, but they have nevertheless played a central role in our understanding of physics at the most fundamental level.
August 18, 1997
The possibility of the existence of magnetic charges is one of the greatest unsolved issues of the physics of this century. The concept of magnetic monopoles has at least two attractive features: (i) Electric and magnetic fields can be described equivalently. (ii) In contrast to quantum electrodynamics models of monopoles are able to explain the quantization of electric charge. We suggest a quantum field theoretical model of the electromagnetic interaction that describes elec...
August 21, 2018
It is proposed that Magnetic Monopoles (MMs) could originate from a new $\mbox{U(1)}_{M}$ symmetry. Such an abelian symmetry is then assumed to be related to the conservation of a magnetic number $M$. This magnetic number is associated with massive MMs from an expected high scale breaking of this magnetic symmetry. The involved scales are approached and the properties of such MMs are investigated along with the prospects for their detection.
November 28, 2005
Dirac showed that the existence of one magnetic pole in the universe could offer an explanation of the discrete nature of the electric charge. Magnetic poles appear naturally in most Grand Unified Theories. Their discovery would be of greatest importance for particle physics and cosmology. The intense experimental search carried thus far has not met with success. I propose a Universe with magnetic poles which are not observed free because they hide in deeply bound monopole--a...
June 3, 1994
The existence of nonsingular classical magnetic monopole solutions is usually understood in terms of topologically nontrivial Higgs field configurations. We show that finite energy magnetic monopole solutions also exist within a class of purely Abelian gauge theories containing charged vector mesons, even though the possibility of nontrivial topology does not even arise. provided that certain relationships among the parameters of the theory are satisfied. These solutions are ...