Creation of Dirac Monopoles in Spinor Bose-Einstein Condensates
Ville Pietilä, Mikko Möttönen
We demonstrate theoretically that, by using external magnetic fields, one can imprint pointlike topological defects on the spin texture of a dilute Bose-Einstein condensate. The symmetries of the condensate order parameter render this topological defect to be accompanied with a vortex filament corresponding to the Dirac string of a magnetic monopole. The vorticity in the condensate coincides with the magnetic field of a magnetic monopole, providing an ideal analogue to the monopole studied by Dirac.
arXiv:0903.4732•Physical Review Letters•Jul 13, 2009•105 citations