Gravitating Monopole-Antimonopole Systems at Large Scalar Coupling

TL;DR

This paper explores static axially symmetric solutions in SU(2) Einstein-Yang-Mills-Higgs theory at large scalar coupling, revealing new configurations and complex gravitating solution branches influenced by scalar coupling strength.

Contribution

It introduces new monopole-antimonopole and vortex ring solutions at large scalar coupling, and analyzes the emergence of multiple gravitating solution branches.

Findings

New monopole-antimonopole and vortex ring solutions at large scalar coupling.

Multiple gravitating solution branches emerge with increasing scalar coupling.

Existence of a rich structure of solutions depending on scalar and gravitational couplings.

Abstract

We discuss static axially symmetric solutions of SU(2) Einstein-Yang-Mills-Higgs theory for large scalar coupling. These regular asymptotically flat solutions represent monopole-antimonopole chain and vortex ring solutions, as well as new configurations, present only for larger values of the scalar coupling. When gravity is coupled to the Yang-Mills-Higgs system, branches of gravitating solutions emerge from the flat-space solutions, and extend up to critical values of the gravitational coupling constant. For small scalar coupling only two branches of gravitating solutions exist, where the second branch connects to a generalized Bartnik-McKinnon solution. For large scalar coupling, however, a plethora of gravitating branches can be present and indicate the emergence of new flat-space branches.