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1 vote
0 answers
61 views

If principle $SU(N)$ bundles on 3-manifolds are trivial, how can there be magnetic monopoles?

Magnetic monopoles are solitons, i.e. field configurations on space (which is 3 dimensional). In pure $SU(N)$ gauge theory, magnetic monopoles can be constructed via 't Hooft's abelian projection (...
dennis's user avatar
  • 742
1 vote
1 answer
162 views

It is said that the dual Meissner effect can explain confinement, but where is the Higgs?

It is said that the dual Misner effect can explain confinement. This refers to when the monopole field acquires a v.e.v.. The t'Hooft-Polyakov monopole arises in a theory with a Higgs. So how does the ...
dennis's user avatar
  • 742
2 votes
1 answer
103 views

What do monopoles have to do with strong coupling?

My understanding is that strong coupling effects arise from instantons in the path integral. But I sometimes read that monopoles (see the electric-magnetic duality) can allow one to calculate strong ...
dennis's user avatar
  • 742
3 votes
1 answer
211 views

In which representation are monopoles of grand unifying theories classified?

In the context of grand unification theories A.Zee's book states that $SU(5)$ (or $SO(10)$ if $SU(5)$ is considered as outdated as GUT candidate) as GUT and as spontaneously broken non-abelian gauge ...
Frederic Thomas's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
162 views

Left-right topology

Are there non-trivial topological solutions (in particular 't Hooft-Polyakov magnetic monopoles) associated with the (local) breaking \begin{equation} SU(2)_R \times SU(2)_L \times U(1)_{B-L} \to SU(...
xi45's user avatar
  • 681
2 votes
1 answer
78 views

Question from Terning's book

In Chapter 7 of Terning's book (Modern Supersymmetry), the first example considered is that of an $SO(3)$ gauge theory, a complex scalar in the triplet representation of $SO(3)$ and a potential term: $...
leastaction's user avatar
  • 2,095
6 votes
1 answer
2k views

Distinction of Dirac monopole and Polyakov-'t Hooft monopole

Can anybody explain the physical difference between Dirac monopole and Polyakov monopole? First, let me write down what I know briefly. Dirac monopole It comes from the symmetry of Maxwell ...
phy_math's user avatar
  • 3,622
12 votes
2 answers
886 views

No monopoles in the Weinberg-Salam model

I'm reading Chapter 10.4 on the 't Hooft-Polyakov monopoles in Ryder's Quantum Field Theory. On page 412 he explains why magnetic monopoles cannot appear in the Weinberg-Salam model. I'm I right by ...
Anne O'Nyme's user avatar
  • 3,872
19 votes
1 answer
1k views

Does the existence of Higgs imply the existence of Magnetic Monopoles?

I am aware that in theories with spontaneous symmetry breaking, Magnetic Monopoles can exist as topological solitons. Can the same be done with the Standard Model gauge group. I am familiar with the ...
Prathyush's user avatar
  • 2,032