I Why Do Some Theorists Claim Cosmic Inflation Dilutes Magnetic Monopoles?

[GaloisGroup]

TL;DR Summary

Why would non-existent monopoles be "diluted" by cosmic inflation?

So if Maxwell's Equations state that Div B = 0 which is a statement that there are no magnetic monopoles why do some folks claim that Cosmic Inflation "dilutes" magnetic monopoles?

 

[Ibix]

$\nabla\cdot\vec B=0$ is a statement that we don't see magnetic monopoles, not a proof that there are none.

A reason why we don't see any (either they exist, but are super rare, or they don't exist at all) would be nice.

 

[Orodruin]

The magnetic monopoles that are considered in cosmology are not point particles. They are topological defects resulting from phase transitions in the early Universe, typically in grand unified theories.

 

[hutchphd]

I am fascinated by the Dirac quantization condition that pertains to the existance of a single magnetic monopole.

 

[Gavran]

The equation $$ \vec \nabla \cdot \vec B = 0 $$ rules out the existence of magnetic monopoles but there is another equation $$ \vec \nabla \cdot \vec B = \mu _ 0 \rho _ m $$ which includes the existence of magnetic monopoles.

 

[Nugatory]

why do some folks claim that ….?

Do you have a particular instance of this claim? It’s hard to have a sensible discussion without that.