Superinsulators:The Hiding Place of Magnetic Monopoles

The concept of single electrical charge is ubiquitous in physics. Whether they are protons, electrons, or quarks, particles carrying electrical charges are fundamental to our universe.

Meanwhile, magnetism appears to have different rules. Instead of being single, magnetic charges come in inseparable pairs – like the north and south poles of a bar magnet. If such a magnet were broken in half, their two poles would not separate, but would each re-form an opposing pole – creating two new magnets.

This principle is at the centre of the theory that isolated magnetic charges, named ‘magnetic monopoles’, cannot exist.
However, in the 1930s, Paul Dirac doubted that there was a fundamental difference between the properties of electrical and magnetic charges. Through calculations, he showed how magnetic monopoles could exist after all.

Dirac’s ideas lead to a consistent quantum theory of electromagnetism, including both electric and magnetic charges. However, researchers could not find experimental evidence for magnetic monopoles, after decades of searching.

Now, Dr Maria Cristina Diamantini at the University of Perugia, Dr Valerii Vinokur at Terra Quantum, and Dr Carlo Trugenberger at SwissScientific Technologies, predict that this deadlock could be about to change.

[daniellelucero]

but this is just emergent monopoles like in spin ices?