Could monopoles exist in a N-S bound state?

In summary, despite years of searching, magnetic monopoles have not been found. However, there is a possibility that they could exist as a bound state of a North and South monopole, similar to a Bohr atom. This would result in a ground-state binding energy that is more negative than the combined rest-mass of the two monopoles, potentially violating energy conservation. It is also suggested that a bound state in the first excited state with a less negative binding energy could obey conservation of energy and result in a minimum positive rest mass for the monopole "atom".
  • #1
johne1618
371
0
Hi,

Despite decades of searching magnetic monopoles haven't been found.

Could it be that they are existing as bound states of a North and South monopole?

One could model such states as a Bohr atom. It seems that the ground-state binding energy would be much more negative than the combined positive rest-mass of the two monopoles.

If two monopoles fell into this ground state then they would be emitting more energy than their combined rest-mass. I think this would be in violation of energy conservation. Though maybe they could exist as a ground state monopole "atom" with negative mass (probably not).

I suppose that a bound state could obey conservation of energy provided that it is in the first excited state with a binding energy that is less negative than the combined monopole rest masses so that the resulting monopole atom has a minimum positive rest mass.

John
 
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  • #2
johne1618 said:
Hi,

Despite decades of searching magnetic monopoles haven't been found.

http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2009/09/04-01.html

Zz.
 
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1. What are monopoles and how do they differ from regular magnets?

Monopoles are hypothetical particles that would have a single magnetic pole, either north or south, unlike regular magnets which have both north and south poles. This means that monopoles would have a net magnetic charge, while regular magnets have no net charge.

2. What is a N-S bound state and how is it related to monopoles?

A N-S bound state refers to a hypothetical state in which a monopole and an anti-monopole are bound together by strong nuclear forces. This means that they would be unable to separate from each other, similar to how protons and neutrons are bound together in an atomic nucleus.

3. Why are monopoles important in physics?

Monopoles are important because their existence would provide evidence for the unification of fundamental forces in physics. This is because the existence of monopoles would support the theory of Grand Unified Theory (GUT), which suggests that all fundamental forces, including electromagnetism and the strong and weak nuclear forces, were once unified in the early universe.

4. Have monopoles ever been observed or detected?

No, monopoles have never been observed or detected. They are still considered a theoretical concept and have not been found in nature or in any experiments. However, there have been some studies that suggest the possible existence of monopoles, such as the observation of magnetic monopole-like behavior in certain materials.

5. How would the existence of monopoles impact our understanding of the universe?

If monopoles were to be discovered, it would have significant implications for our understanding of the fundamental laws of nature. It would also provide evidence for the concept of symmetry breaking, which is a fundamental principle in physics. Additionally, the discovery of monopoles would open up new possibilities for advanced technologies, particularly in the field of magnetism and energy storage.

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