Could monopoles exist in a N-S bound state?

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SUMMARY

This discussion centers on the theoretical existence of magnetic monopoles as bound states of North and South monopoles. The concept is modeled similarly to a Bohr atom, where the ground-state binding energy is speculated to be significantly negative, potentially violating energy conservation if two monopoles were to achieve this state. The conversation suggests that a bound state could exist in a first excited state, allowing for conservation of energy with a binding energy less negative than the combined rest masses of the monopoles, resulting in a monopole atom with a positive rest mass.

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johne1618
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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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Physics news on Phys.org
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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