205 submissions
,
163 unreviewed
5,082 questions
,
2,232 unanswered
5,353 answers
,
22,789 comments
1,470 users with positive rep
820 active unimported users
More ...
Recent questions tagged magnetic-monopoles
A magnetic monopole is a hypothetical particle with only one magnetic pole. Predicted by certain modern theories, including string theory, supergravity, and various grand unified theories. The origin of the idea can be traced back to Maxwell's equations, which allow for the existence of magnetic monopoles
Gauss's law for magnetism states that:
$$\nabla\cdot\vec B=0$$
Whereas the corresponding law for electricity states that:
$$\nabla\cdot\vec E=\frac{q_e}{\epsilon_0}$$
Thus the hypothesis of magnetic monopoles might be stated as "non-divergenceless magnetic fields exist", i.e. Gauss's law for magnetism would take the form $\nabla\cdot\vec B=\frac{q_m}{\epsilon_0}$ for a new "magnetic charge" $q_m$.