• DOI:10.1103/PhysRevD.70.025005
• Corpus ID: 53533070

Topologically Alice strings and monopoles

@article{Benson2004TopologicallyAS,
  title={Topologically Alice strings and monopoles},
  author={Katherine M. Benson and Tom D. Imbo},
  journal={Physical Review D},
  year={2004},
  volume={70},
  pages={025005}
}

• Katherine M. Benson, Tom D. Imbo
• Published 30 June 2004
• Physics
• Physical Review D

Symmetry breaking can produce ``Alice'' strings, which alter scattered charges and carry monopole number and charge when twisted into loops. Alice behavior arises algebraically, when strings obstruct unbroken symmetries\char22{}a fragile criterion. We give a topological criterion, compelling Alice behavior or deforming it away. Our criterion, that ${\ensuremath{\pi}}_{0}(H)$ acts nontrivially on ${\ensuremath{\pi}}_{1}(H),$ links topologically Alice strings to topological monopoles. We twist topologically Alice loops to form monopoles. We show that Alice strings of condensed matter systems (nematic liquid crystals, ${}^{3}\mathrm{He}\ensuremath{-}A,$ and related non-chiral Bose condensates and amorphous chiral superconductors) are topologically Alice, and support fundamental monopole charge when twisted into loops. Thus they might be observed indirectly, not as strings, but as loop-like point defects. We describe other models, showing Alice strings failing our topological criterion; and twisted Alice loops supporting deposited, but not fundamental, monopole number.