Schwinger pair production of magnetic monopoles: momentum distribution for heavy-ion collisions

TL;DR

This paper calculates the momentum distribution of magnetic monopoles produced via the dual Schwinger effect in heavy-ion collisions, providing essential data for experimental searches.

Contribution

It introduces a complex worldline instanton method to compute monopole momentum distributions, including magnetic field effects to all orders.

Findings

Momentum distribution saturates the time-energy uncertainty principle.

Provides a key ingredient for experimental monopole detection.

Method accounts for strong magnetic fields in heavy-ion collisions.

Abstract

Magnetic monopoles may be produced by the dual Schwinger effect in strong magnetic fields. Today, the strongest known magnetic fields in the universe are produced fleetingly in heavy-ion collisions. We use the complex worldline instanton method to calculate the momentum distribution of magnetic monopoles produced in heavy-ion collisions, in an approximation that includes the effect of the magnetic field to all orders but neglects monopole self-interactions. The result saturates the preparation time-energy uncertainty principle, and yields a necessary ingredient for experimental monopole searches in heavy-ion collisions.