Bound states in monopoles: sources for UHECR ?

TL;DR

This paper investigates bound states in monopoles using a simplified model, deriving their energy spectrum and proposing monopoles as potential sources of ultra high energy cosmic rays, which can be tested experimentally.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed analysis of monopole bound states, deriving their energy spectrum and wavefunctions, and proposes monopoles as candidates for ultra high energy cosmic rays.

Findings

Only states with zero angular momentum are allowed.

Numerical derivation of the energy spectrum.

Proposes monopoles as sources for UHECRs.

Abstract

Bound states in monopoles are studied through a simplified, Witten-like model. As the overall structure is determined in full details, it is shown in particular that only those states having a vanishing angular momentum are allowed; for those, the energy spectrum is derived numerically and an approximation is set up that allows an easy description in terms of wavefunctions, usefull for further applications. The monopoles are then proposed as candidates of ultra high energy cosmic rays, an hypothesis that should soon be testable through the Pierre Auger Observatory.