Gauge Fields (Lecture 2)

Abstract

The magnetic monopole in quantum physics was first discussed in a brilliant paper¹ by Dirac in 1931. Conceptually it is related to² a topological property of the U(1) gauge field, (i.e. electromagnetism). Many experimental searches for the monopole have been made, and up to this year, the result³ has been negative. Recently, however, Cabrera⁴ reported an event which he interpreted as possibly due to the passage of a magnetic monopole of the Dirac magnetic charge

$$g = \hbar c{\left( {2e} \right)^{ - 1}}$$

(1)

.