Why Magnetic Monopoles SHOULD Exist
PBS Space Time・2 minutes read
Physicists have long sought magnetic monopoles as distinct from tachyons or supersymmetric particles, but classical electrodynamics explains their absence due to the linkage between magnetic fields and moving electric charges. Quantum mechanics initially seemed to prohibit magnetic monopoles, but Paul Dirac's 1931 prediction challenged this idea based on a concept known as the "Dirac string," with Hans Ohanian suggesting spin as a circular charge current in the Dirac field, although this explanation is not universally accepted.
Insights
- Classical electromagnetism explains why magnetic monopoles have not been observed, as splitting a magnet does not result in isolated magnetic charges due to the nature of magnetic fields and their divergence.
- The Pauli exclusion principle dictates that fermions, like electrons, cannot occupy the same quantum states, preventing collapse under degeneracy pressure. This principle is crucial in understanding phenomena like electron capture in collapsing stars and the unique behavior of particles such as USB plugs with a spin of 2/3.
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Recent questions
What are magnetic monopoles?
Hypothetical particles with isolated magnetic charges.
How did Paul Dirac contribute to magnetic monopole theory?
Predicted their existence mathematically in 1931.
What is the significance of Gauss's law for magnetism?
Asserts magnetic fields have zero divergence.
How does Murray Gell-Mann's principle relate to magnetic monopoles?
Suggests if theory permits, they exist in nature.
What is the Pauli exclusion principle's role in particle interactions?
Ensures fermions never occupy same quantum states.
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