Dark monopoles

Abstract

Monopoles have been a subject of much theoretical and experimental research since they were proposed to symmetrize Maxwell's equations. However, no experimental signature of their existence has been detected. Many mechanisms have been proposed to explain this lack of success. In here we generalize QED to a two photon theory where the extraordinary photon and the monopole belong to the dark sector, and the ordinary photon and the electron to the non-dark sector. A mixing interaction transforms both electron and monopole into dyons generating experimental consequences for indirect and direct monopole detection which we analyze.

Figures (7)

• Figure 1: Magnetic charge of the electron as a function of $\theta$ for a small value of $\varepsilon$.
• Figure 2: Circular coil of the calculation.
• Figure 3: Scheme of double-slit experiment in which the Aharonov-Bohm effect can be observed. The magnetic field can be varied and the interference pattern on the screen of the electrons which pass through the two slits changes.
• Figure 4: Electron-positron annihilation into monopole-antimonopole. The left figure proceeds via de real photon, while the right figure via the dark photon.
• Figure 5: The structure of the total cross sections for $e^+e^-$ annihilation into monopole-antimonople: for $S=0$(dashed) and for $S=1/2$ (solid). We use here $(2 \theta-\varepsilon)^2 =1$ and the cross section in units of $m^{-2}$.