Monopoles and Holography

TL;DR

This paper introduces a holographic model in AdS_4 where a magnetic field induces a spontaneous crystal structure through monopole solitons, leading to symmetry breaking and emergent phenomena at zero temperature.

Contribution

It demonstrates a novel holographic setup where monopole condensation creates a crystal structure without chemical potential, revealing new phases and symmetry properties.

Findings

Formation of a monopole wall in the bulk

Spontaneous breaking of translational symmetry

Emergent SU(2) symmetry in the IR

Abstract

We present a holographic theory in AdS_4 whose zero temperature ground state develops a crystal structure, spontaneously breaking translational symmetry. The crystal is induced by a background magnetic field, but requires no chemical potential. This lattice arises from the existence of 't Hooft-Polyakov monopole solitons in the bulk which condense to form a classical object known as a monopole wall. In the infra-red, the magnetic field is screened and there is an emergent SU(2) global symmetry.