Monopoles, Gauge Fields, and Anomalies

Abstract

The possible catalysis of baryon disintegration by magnetic poles is a beautiful example of the way in which monopoles illuminate fundamental concepts of physics. This hypothetical process is followed step by step, with an effort to minimize arbitrary hypotheses and to state clearly those which remain, as well as the consequences of changing them. The conclusions are that there should be a large cross section for catalysis in collisions of slow monopoles with nucleons, though not with large nuclei, but the intrinsic rate for destruction of a nucleon captured by a pole could be many orders of magnitude below the 10²³ per second which characterizes strong interactions. It is argued that Rubakov’s and Callan’s pictures of catalysis are compatible but distinct, and either permits a strong rate but requires at least a weak rate.