Creation of Dirac monopoles in spinor Bose-Einstein condensates

Phys Rev Lett. 2009 Jul 17;103(3):030401. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.030401. Epub 2009 Jul 13.

Abstract

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.