Can anyone tell me the properties of monopoles?

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In summary, monopoles are a theoretical concept proposed by P.A.M. Dirac to make quantum electromagnetic theory fully symmetric. They are predicted to exist as dual magnetic charges to electric charges, but there is currently no experimental evidence for their existence. Superconductors, which exhibit perfect diamagnetism, are not considered monopoles. Magnets derive their magnetic properties from moving charges, such as the spinning electrons in ferromagnetic materials.
  • #1
Raymond31415
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can anyone tell me the properties of monopoles?
 
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  • #2
I didnt know monopoles existed, have they made one yet? I guess you're talking about a magnet with only one pole right?
 
  • #3
He could be referring to acoustic monopoles. It's tough to say though since the OP is very vague in what he is looking for.
 
  • #4
  • #5
I suggest you to read a paper written by P.A.M. Dirac, i think during the forties.
For sure youn know Maxwell equations. you can check their asymmetric form between the electric and the Magnetic field right? let's say just divE=rho, divB=0 right?

Dirac postulated divB=i rhom! a pure immaginary density of magnetic charge.
And the same for the vector J(electric)----> iJm(magnetic).

After this assumptions you can check by your own that you can write the maxwell equations in a really nice form representing the electric and the magnetic field with a point on a complex plane. W=E+iB. now you can check that the equations are invariant under a "duality" trasformation, a rotation on th complex plane made under U(1)=SO(2). This is the aim of the theory put more symmetry on it. Unfortunately we've never see a magnetic monopole even if we cut lots of time a magnet :-).
Doing this the Multipoles Series of the two fileds become very similar also... see the article... Physical review volume 74 number 7 first october '48 "The theory of Magnetic monopoles" you'll see that it implies the elctricity quantization===> eg=1/2 n (hbar)c ! e elactron charge g fundamental magnetic charge n an integer and the rest you know for sure...

bye
marco
 
  • #6
yes, magnetic monopoles, I was wondering if superconductors might be a type of monopole because of its magnetic properties
 
  • #7
Raymond31415 said:
yes, magnetic monopoles, I was wondering if superconductors might be a type of monopole because of its magnetic properties

No, they are not. A superconductor exhibits a perfect diamagnet property. That certainly isn't a "monopole".

Zz.
 
  • #8
No magnetic field can penetrate a superconductor, this fact is manipulated by SQUID magnetometers which as far as I am aware are the most sensitive magnetometers we have, capable of sensing variations in field intensity of the order of a few femto Teslas.
 
  • #9
Raymond,

Adding to what ZapperZ has said, let me tell you that magnetic monopoles (as described by Dirac) are a theoretical concept of which there is not yet any experimental evidence (although their existence is highly anticipated). Such monopoles were construced to make the quantum EM theory fully symmetric : ie complete duality between electrical and magnetic fenomena, so for each electric charge there is a corresponding dual magnetic charge. Look at the website that i provided in the link. Such monopoles are used in QCD as well to describe quarkconfinement in terms of perturbation theory after transforming the big (ie very strong interaction) electrical coupling constant to a low magnetic coupling constant (so that pertubartion theory can be applied).

marlon
 
  • #10
If you cut a normal magnet with + in one end and - in the other in half, would you get a monopole?
 
  • #11
Jarle said:
If you cut a normal magnet with + in one end and - in the other in half, would you get a monopole?

If you could, we would never have Maxwell equations in its current form.

Zz.
 
  • #12
What makes the magnet a magnet, and not just a normal object. what powers can this magnet object contain to affect other obejcts far away from it?
 
  • #13
Like a starfish, if you break a magnet you get two smaller magnets. And like.. a water molecule with its electric dipole moment, it will affect (attract and reorient) other nearby objects but you wouldn't ascribe "powers" to it. And.. like an electromagnet-coil, a magnet is magnetic because it contains domains of spinning electrons.
 
  • #14
Jarle said:
What makes the magnet a magnet, and not just a normal object. what powers can this magnet object contain to affect other obejcts far away from it?

Didn't you play with magnets in primary school? Basically, like poles repel and unlike poles attract, negative sticks to positive. Also, a charged particle will follow the magnetic field lines.

The magnetic field arises in the first place because of moving charges, basically a charged object will become a magnetic object if it is moving. Sometimes this effect occurs at a sub-atomic scale, small charged particles called electrons whizzing about in an ordered manner cause a magnetic field.
 
  • #15
billiards said:
Also, a charged particle will follow the magnetic field lines.

Huh ? Lorentz force anybody ?

basically a charged object will become a magnetic object if it is moving.

Sorry, i don't get this ? Are you saying that an electric point particle moving in a magnetic field, becomes a magnetic point particle ?

Sometimes this effect occurs at a sub-atomic scale, small charged particles called electrons whizzing about in an ordered manner cause a magnetic field.

When ?

marlon
 
  • #16
marlon said:
Huh ? [...] magnetic point particle ? [...]
I think what bill's saying is true, but loose. Charged particles do tend to spiral around strong field lines, and indeed (classically) magnetic fields result from charged particles being viewed in a frame that isn't comoving. A "spinning" electron could perhaps even be described as a magnetic point particle, but it is still a dipole rather than a monopole.
 
  • #17
cesiumfrog said:
A "spinning" electron could perhaps even be described as a magnetic point particle
No, it cannot. This is exactly what i was objecting against. The concept of magnetic point particle does not exist in both classical physics and special relativity.


regards
marlon
 
  • #18
basically a charged object will become a magnetic object if it is moving.
Sorry, i don't get this ? Are you saying that an electric point particle moving in a magnetic field, becomes a magnetic point particle ?

Badly phrased I'll admit, but I wasn't talking small scale here.



Sometimes this effect occurs at a sub-atomic scale, small charged particles called electrons whizzing about in an ordered manner cause a magnetic field.

When ?

How about ferromagnetism.
 
  • #19
billiards said:
Badly phrased I'll admit, but I wasn't talking small scale here.

Ok, but still i don't get the point

How about ferromagnetism.
Ohh ok, got it now.

But the "spinning electrons" (they are NOT actually spinning, remember that) are certainly NOT magnetic monopoles. Besides, such magnetic properties arise due to a collective behaviour of many magnetic dipoles (ie the spins you talk about) all interacting together with each other is some way. It is the "way of interacting" which determines whether a material is ferro/anti ferro or ferri magnetic.

marlon
 
  • #20
Sorry billiards, but Marlon is right.

Do you know Lorentz force?
The total force (F) acting on a charged particle (q) passing trough a magnetic field with velocity v is: F=q(VxB). Where "x" it's the vector product, so the particle will move perpendicular to the magnetic filed. WON'T follow the magnetic lines.

For Jarle.
I think that billiards was trying to tell you this:
In nature we observe that a little closed wire which has moving electrons in it is equivalent to a magnetic dipole. This is Ampere theorem statement.
At an elementary level we can approximate atoms with Bohr interpretation (Planetary). So electrons in their orbits seems like charged wires (Amperian currents). putting differents object in a solenoid we can check that they react in different way to the applied magnetic field. Basically we have:diamagnetic, paramagnetic and ferromagnetic materials. It works like the compass there is a magnetic torque that alligne the magn dipole with the lines. This is just a model that rapresent objects with an Avogadro's number of little tiny magnetic dipoles. If you buy a matter physics book you can learn a lot more. You can check also the relativistic interpretation of electromagnetism which explain by itself ampere theorem, and you can find a lot more (SPIN-orbit interaction...). I suggest YOU "Physics of atoms and molecules" Bransden and Joachain.
bye
Marco
 
  • #21
Yes I know I was wrong, I just didn't want to admit it : )

I flunked electromagnetism course in my first year at uni, now 4 yrs later I've studied a lot of other branches of physics in a lot more depth so I find it not too hard to teach myself. I was reading about magnetism the night before I made that post but I must've got mixed up about something.

It's good that people here are on the ball, otherwise I might have gone on thinking I was right, but I find the best way to learn is sometimes to try and explain it to someone that knows and then get feedback telling you how you did.
 

1. What are monopoles?

Monopoles are hypothetical particles that have only one magnetic pole, either a north or south pole. In contrast, regular magnets have both a north and south pole.

2. Do monopoles exist?

Currently, there is no conclusive evidence of the existence of monopoles. They are predicted by some theories, but have not been observed in experiments.

3. What are the properties of monopoles?

If monopoles do exist, they are believed to have a magnetic charge, similar to how regular magnets have a magnetic charge. They would also have a mass and spin, like other particles.

4. How are monopoles different from regular magnets?

Monopoles differ from regular magnets in that they have only one magnetic pole, while regular magnets have both a north and south pole. Monopoles are also predicted to have a much stronger magnetic force.

5. What are the potential applications of monopoles?

If monopoles are ever discovered and harnessed, they could have a wide range of applications in technology, such as in more efficient motors and generators, and in the development of new materials with unique magnetic properties.

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