Topological quantization of magnetic monopoles and their bifurcation theory
Based on the 't Hooft \(SU(2)\) gauge field theory and using the \(\varphi\)-mapping method, the authors quantize the magnetic monopoles at the topological level and determine their quantum numbers by the Hopf indices and Brouwer degrees of the \(\varphi\)-mapping. Further they investigate the origin and bifurcation theories of magnetic monopoles at the limit points and bifurcation points, including first-order and second-order degenerate points, respectively. Finally, it is pointed out that the branching process of magnetic monopoles is not a gradual change, but a sudden one and that a magnetic monopole can split into at most four particles at one time.
scientific article; zbMATH DE number 1337975