Magnetic Monopoles in Field Theory and Cosmology

TL;DR

This paper reviews the theoretical role of magnetic monopoles in quantum field theory and cosmology, discusses their absence in experiments, and explores how condensed matter systems can shed light on their properties.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of magnetic monopoles in fundamental physics and proposes using condensed matter analogs to study their properties.

Findings

Magnetic monopoles are predicted by theories beyond the Standard Model.

Experimental searches have not yet observed monopoles.

Condensed matter systems can serve as analogs to study monopole physics.

Abstract

The existence of magnetic monopoles is predicted by many theories of particle physics beyond the Standard Model. However, in spite of extensive searches, there is no experimental or observational sign of them. I review the role of magnetic monopoles in quantum field theory and discuss their implications for particle physics and cosmology. I also highlight their differences and similarities with monopoles found in frustrated magnetic systems, and discuss how experiments carried out in these systems could help us understand the physics of fundamental monopoles.