The existence of a magnetic monopole, if it exists, remains elusive. Experimental searches have been carried out and are continuing in this quest. Of great uncertainty is the mass of the monopole which is model-dependent and ranging from some Grand Unified scale to the electroweak scale. In this paper, we propose a model where topologically stable, finite-energy monopoles {\em à la} 't Hooft-Polyakov could exist with a mass proportional to the electroweak scale. This comes about in a model of neutrino masses where right-handed neutrinos are {\em non-sterile} whose electroweak-scale Majorana masses are obtained by the coupling to a complex {\em triplet} Higgs field. Custodial symmetry which insures $M_W=M_Z \cos θ_W$ requires the introduction of another triplet Higgs field but {\em real} this time. It is this {\em real Higgs triplet} that is at the core of our proposal.
We maintain that the search for the electroweak monopole is a key issue in the advancement of our understanding of the standard model. Unlike the Dirac monopole in electrodynamics, which is optional, the electroweak monopole should exist within the framework of the standard model. The mass of the electroweak monopole is estimated to be 5 to 7 TeV, but could be as large as 15 TeV. Above threshold its production rate at the LHC is expected to be relatively large, (1/alpha(em)2) times bigger than that of W+W- pairs. The search for the electroweak monopole is one of the prime motivations of the ne…
We examine the issue of monopole annihilation at the electroweak scale induced by flux tube confinement, concentrating first on the simplest possibility---one which requires no new physics beyond the standard model. Monopoles existing at the time of the electroweak phase transition may trigger $W$ condensation which can confine magnetic flux into flux tubes. However we show on very general grounds, using several independent estimates, that such a mechanism is impotent. We then present several general dynamical arguments constraining the possibility of monopole annihilation through any confinin…
We discuss the cosmological production and the successive evolution of the electroweak (Cho-Maison) monopole in the standard model, and estimate the remnant monopole density at present universe. We confirm that, although the electroweak phase transition is of the first order, it is very mildly the first order. So the monopole production comes from the thermal fluctuations of the Higgs field after the phase transition, not the vacuum bubble collisions during the phase transition. Moreover, while the monopoles are produced copiously around the Ginzburg temperature $T_G\simeq 59.6~{\rm TeV}$, mos…
These lectures start with an elementary introduction to the subject of magnetic monopoles which should be accesible from any physics background. In the Weinberg-Salam model of electroweak interactions, magnetic monopoles appear at the ends of a type of non-topological vortices called electroweak strings. These will also be discussed, as well as recent simulations of their formation during a phase transition which indicate that, in the (unphysical) range of parameters in which the strings are classically stable, they can form with a density comparable to topological vortices.
We show that for a large range of parameters in a $SU(2)_L\times U(1)$ electroweak theory with two Higgs doublets there may exist classically stable flux tubes of Z boson magnetic field. In a limit of an extra global $\tilde U(1)$ symmetry, these flux-tubes become topologically stable. These results are automatically valid even if $\tilde U(1)$ is gauged.
We describe electroweak monopoles within the Born-Infeld extension of $SU(2)_L\times U(1)_Y$ electroweak theory. We argue for topological stability of these monopoles and computed their mass in terms of the Born-Infeld mass parameters. We then propose a new mechanism for electroweak baryogenesis which takes advantage of the following salient features of the electroweak monopoles: (i) monopoles support extra CP violation in the topological sector of the electroweak theory; (ii) they mediate unsuppressed baryon number violating interactions; (iii) non-thermal production of monopoles during the e…
We present finite energy analytic monopole and dyon solutions whose size is fixed by the electroweak scale. Our result shows that genuine electroweak monopole whose mass is around 6.7 TeV could exist, which could be detected at LHC.
If the dark sector contains 't Hooft-Polyakov monopoles and a small enough dark gauge coupling, dark monopoles could be a macroscopic dark matter candidate. Its Higgs-portal coupling to the Standard Model can modify the electroweak vacuum in the monopole interior. In the most striking cases, dark monopoles could even contain electroweak-symmetric cores and generate multi-hit signals at large-volume detectors. If they are produced via parametric resonance in the early Universe, monopoles with radii up to one micron and masses up to ten kilotonnes could account for all of dark matter.
We consider an isolated electroweak monopole solution within the Standard Model with a non-linear Born-Infeld extension of the hypercharge gauge field. Monopole (and dyon) solutions in such an extension are regular and their masses are predicted to be proportional to the Born-Infeld mass parameter. We argue that cosmological production of electroweak monopoles may delay the electroweak phase transition and make it more strongly first order for monopole masses $M\gtrsim 9.3\cdot 10^3$ TeV, while the nucleosynthesis constraints on the abundance of relic monopoles impose the bound $M\lesssim 2.3\…
We present a finite-energy electroweak-monopole solution obtained by considering non-linear extensions of the hypercharge sector of the Electroweak Theory, based on logarithmic and exponential versions of electrodynamics. We find constraints for a class of non-linear extensions and also work out an estimate for the monopole mass in this scenario. We finally derive a lower bound for the energy of the monopole and discuss the simpler case of a Dirac magnetic charge.
We investigated numerically properties of Nambu monopoles in lattice Electroweak theory at realistic values of $α$ and $θ_W$. Our choice of parameters of lattice Lagrangian corresponds to large values of the Higgs boson mass $M_H > 2 M_W$. We find that the density of Nambu monopoles cannot be predicted by the choice of the initial parameters of Electroweak theory and should be considered as the new external parameter of the theory. We also investigate the difference between the versions of Electroweak theory with the gauge groups $SU(2)\otimes U(1)$ and $SU(2)\otimes U(1)/Z_2$. We do not detec…
The recent MoEDAL experiment at LHC to detect the electroweak monopole makes the theoretical prediction of the monopole mass an urgent issue. We discuss different ways to estimate the mass of the electroweak monopole. We first present a scaling argument which indicates that the mass of the electroweak monopole to be around 4 TeV. To justify this we construct finite energy analytic dyon solutions which could be viewed as the regularized Cho-Maison dyon, modifying the coupling strengths of the electromagnetic interaction of $W$-boson in the standard model. Our result demonstrates that a genuine …
We considered the lattice electroweak theory at realistic values of $α$ and $θ_W$ and for large values of the Higgs mass. We investigated numerically the properties of topological objects that are identified with quantum Nambu monopoles. We have found that the action density near the Nambu monopole worldlines exceeds the density averaged over the lattice in the physical region of the phase diagram. Moreover, their percolation probability is found to be an order parameter for the transition between the symmetric and the broken phases. Therefore, these monopoles indeed appear as real physical ob…
We apply a generalized field ansatz to describe the spherically symmetric sector of classical solutions of the electroweak theory. This sector contains Abelian magnetic monopoles labeled by their magnetic charge $n=\pm 1,\pm 2,\ldots$, the non-Abelian monopole for $n=\pm 2$ found previously by Cho and Maison (CM), and also the electric oscillating solutions. All magnetic monopoles have infinite energy. We analyze their perturbative stability and use the method of complex spacetime tetrad to separate variables and reduce the perturbation equations to multi-channel Schroedinger-type eigenvalue p…
In the standard model, the electroweak Z-string can end on a Nambu monopole, whose mass is calculated to be 689 GeV from the current precise experimental data assuming the new particle with mass 125 GeV to be the Higgs boson. We study an extension of the standard model with additional singlet and triplet Higgs fields in the framework of N=1 supersymmetric field theory by using a D-brane configuration in type IIA string theory. We construct a D-brane configuration describing the electroweak symmetry breaking, and find a single D2-brane configuration describing a Z-string and a Nambu monopole at…
We construct the multi-charge generalizations for the electroweak magnetic monopole solution of Cho and Maison within a wide range of values of the magnetic charge. We use the same ansatz for the axially symmetric fields as the one previously employed to construct the electroweak sphalerons and compare the internal structure of monopoles with that of sphalerons. The monopoles have zero dipole moment but a finite quadrupole momentum that rapidly increases with growing magnetic charge. For large charges, the monopole configurations are strongly squashed and show inside a bubble of symmetric phas…
The vacuum manifold of the standard electroweak model is a three-sphere when one considers homogeneous Higgs field configurations. For inhomogeneous configurations we argue that the vacuum manifold is the Hopf fibered three sphere and that this viewpoint leads to general criteria to detect electroweak monopoles and Z-strings. We extend the Kibble mechanism to study the formation of electroweak monopoles and strings during electroweak symmetry breaking. The distribution of magnetic monopoles produces magnetic fields that have a spectrum $B_λ\propto λ^{-2}$, where $λ$ is a smearing length scale.…
We examine models where massless chiral fermions with both "electric" and "magnetic" hypercharges could form condensates. When some of the fermions are also electroweak doublets such condensates can break the electroweak gauge symmetry down to electromagnetism in the correct way. Since ordinary hypercharge is weakly coupled at the TeV scale, magnetic hypercharge is strongly coupled and can potentially drive the condensation. Such models are similar to technicolor, but with hypercharge playing the role of the technicolor gauge group, so the standard model gauge group breaks itself. A heavy top …
We use the $SU(5)$ model to show the presence in grand unified theories of an electroweak monopole and a magnetic dumbbell ("meson") made up of a monopole-antimonopole pair connected by a $Z$-magnetic flux tube. The monopole is associated with the spontaneous breaking of the weak $SU(2)_L$ gauge symmetry by the induced vacuum expectation value of a heavy scalar $SU(2)_L$ triplet with zero weak hypercharge contained in the adjoint Higgs 24-plet. This monopole carries a Coulomb magnetic charge of $(3/4) (2π/e)$ as well as $Z$-magnetic charge, where $2π/e$ denotes the unit Dirac magnetic charge. …
We employ a variety of symmetry breaking patterns in $SO(10)$ and $E_6$ Grand Unified Theories to demonstrate the appearance of topological defects including magnetic monopoles, strings, and necklaces. We show that independent of the symmetry breaking pattern, a topologically stable superheavy monopole carrying a single unit of Dirac charge as well as color magnetic charge is always present. Lighter intermediate mass topologically stable monopoles carrying two or three quanta of Dirac charge can appear in $SO(10)$ and $E_6$ models respectively. These lighter monopoles as well as topologically …
We find a topologically non-trivial structure of the Nambu monopole in two Higgs doublet model (2HDM), which is a magnetic monopole attached by two topologically stable $Z$ strings ($Z$ flux tubes) from two opposite sides. The structure is in sharp contrast to the topological triviality of the Nambu monopole in the standard model (SM), which is attached by a single non-topological $Z$ string. It is found that the Nambu monopole in 2HDM possesses the same fiber bundle structure with those of the `t Hooft-Polyakov monopole and the Wu-Yang description of the Dirac monopole, as a result of the fac…
3D electroweak sphalerons on the lattice are used as test configurations for definitions of various topological defects. In the maximally Abelian gauge they are shown to contain a symmetric array of Abelian monopoles and anti-monopoles connected by two kinds of Abelian vortex strings. Gauge-invariant lattice definitions of the Nambu monopole and the Z-vortex string are formulated which correspond to Abelian projection from the unitary gauge. The sphalerons contain in their core just one (non-Abelian) Nambu monopole-anti-monopole pair (connected by a Z-string) in an unstable saddle point bound …
In a recent paper, Cho, Kim and Yoon (CKY) have proposed a version of the SU(2) $\times$ U(1) Standard Model with finite-energy monopole and dyon solutions. The CKY model postulates that the effective U(1) gauge coupling $\to \infty$ very rapidly as the Englert-Brout-Higgs vacuum expectation value $\to 0$, but in a way that is incompatible with LHC measurements of the Higgs boson $H \to γγ$ decay rate. We construct generalizations of the CKY model that are compatible with the $H \to γγ$ constraint, and calculate the corresponding values of the monopole and dyon masses. We find that the monopol…
We consider an extension of the Standard Model that was proposed recently by one of the current authors (PQH), which admits magnetic monopoles with a mass of order of a few TeV. We impose, in addition to topological quantization in the SU(2) sector of the model, the Dirac Quantization Condition (DQC) required for consistency of the quantum theory of a charged electron in the presence of the monopole. This leads to the prediction ${\rm sin}^2θ_W = 1/4$, where $θ_W$ is the weak mixing angle at the energy scale set by the monopole mass. A leading-order renormalization-group analysis yields the va…
We consider the lattice realization of the Standard Model with an additional $Z_6$ symmetry. Numerical simulations were performed on the asymmetric lattice, which corresponds to the finite temperature theory. Our choice of parameters corresponds to large Higgs masses ($M_H > 90$ Gev). The phase diagram was investigated and has been found to be different from that of the usual lattice realization of the Standard Model. It has been found, that the confinement-deconfinement phase transition lines for the SU(2) and SU(3) fields coincide. The transition line between Higgs and symmetric deconfinemen…
We propose a minimal and self-contained model in non-compact flat five dimensions which localizes the Standard Model (SM) on a domain wall. Localization of gauge fields is achieved by the condensation of Higgs field via a Higgs dependent gauge kinetic term in five-dimensional Lagrangian. The domain wall connecting vacua with unbroken gauge symmetry drives the Higgs condensation which provides both electroweak symmetry breaking and gauge field localization at the same time. Our model predicts higher-dimensional interactions $|H|^{2n}(F_{μν})^2$ in the low-energy effective theory. This leads to …
Topological Stabilization via Higgs and $Z$-Boson Mediated Repulsions in Electroweak Monopole-Antimonopole Pairs
Southern Center for Nuclear Science Theory, Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences（中国科学院近代物理研究所南方核科学理论中心）；School of Nuclear Science and Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences（中国科学院大学核科学与技术学院）；School of Physics, Universiti Sains Malaysia（马来西亚理科大学物理学院）
We describe the internal composition of a topologically stable monopole carrying a magnetic charge of $6π/e$ that arises from the spontaneous breaking of the trinification symmetry $SU(3)_c\times SU(3)_L\times SU(3)_R$ ($G$). Since this monopole carries no color magnetic charge, a charge of $6π/e$ is required by the Dirac quantization condition. The breaking of $G$ to the Standard Model occurs in a number of steps and yields the desired topologically stable monopole ("magnetic baryon"), consisting of three confined monopoles. The confined monopoles ("magnetic quarks") each carry a combination …
We show how in the standard electroweak model three $SU(2)_L$ Nambu monopoles, each carrying electromagnetic (EM) and Z- magnetic fluxes, can merge (through Z-strings) with a single $U(1)_Y$ Dirac monopole to yield a composite monopole that only carries EM magnetic flux. Compatibility with the Dirac quantization condition requires this composite monopole to carry six quanta ($12 π/e$) of magnetic charge, independent of the electroweak mixing angle $θ_w$. The Dirac monopole is not regular at the origin and the energy of the composite monopole is therefore divergent. We discuss how this problem …
We study the properties of Nambu monopoles and Z-vortices in the 3D lattice SU(2) Higgs theory which represents the Standard Model at high temperature. We show that the densities of the Nambu monopoles and the Z-vortices are O(1) in the symmetric phase and generically small in the Higgs phase. Near to the critical Higgs mass and in the vicinity of the phase transition the densities are no more negligible in the broken phase. The percolation probability of the Z-vortex lines is found as a new disorder parameter for this phase transition. We conclude that the transition to the symmetric phase is…
Monopole solutions in SU(2) Yang-Mills theory which includes spinor fields described by the nonlinear Dirac equation are obtained. It is demonstrated that the energy spectrum of such a system possesses a global minimum whose appearance is brought about solely by the nonlinear spinor fields. It is shown that the monopole solution obtained differs in principle from the 't~Hooft-Polyakov monopole in that it is topologically trivial.
We discuss how in $SO(10)$ grand unification an observable number density of topologically stable intermediate mass ( $\sim 10^{14}$ GeV) monopoles survive inflation driven by a Coleman-Weinberg potential and non-minimal coupling of the inflaton field to gravity. The scalar spectral index $n_s$ is in excellent agreement with the current observations, and the tensor to scalar ratio $r\gtrsim 0.003$. The model also predicts the presence of intermediate scale topologically stable cosmic strings, and their gravitational wave spectrum reflects the amount of cosmic inflation experienced by the assoc…
In a recent work, a successful prediction has been made for $\sin^2 θ_W$ at an energy scale of O(TeV) based on the Dirac quantization condition of an electroweak monopole of the EW-$ν_R$ model. The fact that such a prediction can be made has prompted the following question: Can $SU(2)$ be unified with $U(1)$ at O(TeV) scale since a prediction for $\sin^2 θ_W$ necessarily relates the $U(1)$ coupling $g^{\prime}$ to the $SU(2)$ weak coupling $g$? It is shown in this manuscript that this can be accomplished by embedding $SU(2) \times U(1)$ into $SU(3)_W$ (The Weak Eightfold Way) with the followin…
It is shown that the minimal Left-Right symmetric model admits cosmic string, domain wall and conditionally, monopole solutions. The strings arise when the $SU(2)_R$ is broken and can either be destabilized at the electroweak scale or remain stable through the subsequent breakdown to $U(1)_{EM}$. The monopoles and domain wall configurations exist in the $SU(2)_L\otimes U(1)_Y$ symmetric phase and disappear after subsequent symmetry breaking. Their destabilization provides new sources of non-equilibrium effects below the electroweak scale. Several defect-mediated mechanisms for low energy baryo…
It is shown that unification of strong and Electroweak interactions at Tev scale may lead to appearance of topologically stable monopoles with masses of the order of 40 Tev. Those monopoles may play an important role in the early Universe, at finite temperature. They may even be condensed at high enough temperature. The lattice model for investigation of this phenomenon is presented.
The classical transitions between topologically distinct vacua in a SU(2)-Higgs model, using a Higgs field of mass approximately 120 GeV, is examined to probe the crossover region between the symmetric and broken phase. For the volumes used, this crossover is approximately 10 GeV wide.
We show that the minimal supergravity extension of the standard model automatically contains topologically stable electroweak strings if the hidden sector is invariant under the exact R-symmetry. These defects appear in the form of the semiglobal R-strings, which necessarily carry $Z$-flux inside their core. This result is independent from the particular structure of the hidden sector. Discussed strings differ fundamentally from the embedded $Z$-strings. If R-symmetry is explicitly broken (e.g. due to an anomaly), the decay of the semiglobal strings may have important implications for the bary…
We discuss two exotic objects, which must be experimentally identified in chiral superfluids and superconductors. These are (i) the vortex with fractional quantum number (N=1/2 in chiral superfluids, and N=1/2 and N=1/4 in chiral superconductors), which plays the part ofthe Alice string in relativistic theories; and (ii) the hedgehog in the l-field, which is the counterpart of the Dirac magnetic monopole. These objects of different dimensions are topologically connected. They form the combined object which is called nexus in relativistic theories. In chiral superconductors the nexus has magnet…
We describe new solutions of Yang-Mills-Higgs theories consisting of magnetic monopoles in a phase with fully broken gauge symmetry. Rather than spreading out radially, the magnetic field lines form flux tubes. The solution is topologically stable and, when embedded in N=2 SQCD, preserves 1/4 of the supercharges. From the perspective of the flux-tube the monopole appears as a kink. Many monopoles may be threaded onto a single flux tube and placed at arbitrary separation to create a stable, BPS necklace of solitons.
High-density fermion matter is meta-stable due to the anomalous non-conservation of baryon and lepton numbers in the electroweak theory. The meta-stable state decays by penetrating the sphaleron barrier separating topologically different vacua. The decay happens locally, and results in an annihilation of twelve fermions, accompanied by a production of gauge and Higgs bosons. We find numerically local bounce solutions determining the decay rate, which are classical paths in imaginary time, connecting two adjacent topological sectors. We also follow the real-time evolution of the bosonic fields …
Two exotic objects are still not identified experimentally in chiral superfluids and superconductors. These are the half-quantum vortex, which plays the part of the Alice string in relativistic theories, and the hedgehog in the l-field, which is the counterpart of the Dirac magnetic monopole. These two objects of different dimensionality are topologically connected. They form the combined object which is called nexus in relativistic theories (hep-th/9911125). Such combination will allow us to observe half-quantum vortices and monopoles in several realistic geometries.
We use large-scale numerical simulations to study the formation and evolution of non-topological defects in a generalized electroweak phase transition described by the Glashow-Salam-Weinberg model without fermions. Such defects include dumbbells, comprising a pair of monopoles joined by a segment of electroweak string. These exhibit complex dynamics, with some shrinking under the string tension and others growing due to the monopole-antimonopole attractions between near neighbours. We estimate the range of parameters where the network of dumbbells persists, and show that this region is narrowe…
We show that a topological Nambu monopole exists as a regular solution for a large range of parameters in two Higgs doublet models, contrary to the standard model admitting only non-topological Nambu monopoles. We analyze a Higgs potential with a global $U(1)$ symmetry and a discrete symmetry $\mathbb{Z}_2$. The monopole is attached by two topological $Z$ strings ($Z$ flux tubes) from both sides. Despite of a trivial second homotopy group, the discrete symmetry $\mathbb{Z}_2$ together with a non-trivial first homotopy group for $Z$ strings topologically ensures the topological stability. After…
We study the dynamics of the Nambu monopole in two Higgs doublet models, which is a magnetic monopole attached by two topological $Z$ strings ($Z$ flux tubes) from two opposite sides. The monopole is a topologically stable solution of the equation of motions when the Higgs potential has global $U(1)$ and $\mathbb{Z}_2$ symmetries. In this paper, we consider more general cases without the $\mathbb{Z}_2$ symmetry, and find that it is no longer a static solution but moves along the $Z$ string being pulled by the heavier string. After analytically constructing an asymptotic form of the monopole, w…
Embedded defects proposed long ago (Z-vortices and Nambu monopoles) have been successfully searched for in 3D equilibrium lattice studies within the standard model near the electroweak phase transition and the crossover (which follows it for realistic Higgs mass). Gauge independent lattice-vortex operators are proposed. Vortex condensation (percolation) is found to characterize the high-temperature phase. Small vortex clusters are thermally activated with non-negligible density on the low-temperature side only at higher Higgs mass, where preliminary evidence supports their semiclassical nature…
Unified theories of strong, weak and electromagnetic interactions which have electric charge quantization predict the existence of topologically stable magnetic monopoles. Intermediate scale monopoles are comparable with detection energies of cosmic ray monopoles at IceCube and other cosmic ray experiments. Magnetic monopoles in some models can be significantly lighter and carry two, three or possibly even higher quanta of the Dirac magnetic charge. They could be light enough for their effects to be detected at the LHC either directly or indirectly. An example based on a D-brane inspired $SU(3…
