Transitions between Vortex Rings and Monopole-Antimonopole Chains

TL;DR

This paper explores how static axially symmetric solutions in SU(2) Yang-Mills-Higgs theory transition between vortex rings and monopole-antimonopole chains as the Higgs self-coupling strength varies, revealing new solution branches at critical couplings.

Contribution

It demonstrates the existence of new solution branches and transitions between vortex rings and monopole-antimonopole chains depending on the Higgs self-coupling strength.

Findings

New solution branches appear at critical coupling values.

Transitions occur between vortex rings and monopole-antimonopole chains.

Different node structures are associated with these solutions.

Abstract

In monopole-antimonopole chain solutions of SU(2) Yang-Mills-Higgs theory the Higgs field vanishes at m isolated points along the symmetry axis, whereas in vortex ring solutions the Higgs field vanishes along one or more rings, centered around the symmetry axis. We investigate how these static axially symmetric solutions depend on the strength of the Higgs selfcoupling \lambda. We show, that as the coupling is getting large, new branches of solutions appear at critical values of \lambda. Exhibiting a different node structure, these give rise to transitions between vortex rings and monopole-antimonopole chains.