A Topological Criterion for Alice Strings

dc.creatorBenson, Katherine
dc.creatorImbo, Tom
dc.date2003-04-17
dc.date2003-12-05
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-07T04:15:10Z
dc.date.available2026-07-07T04:15:10Z
dc.descriptionSymmetry breaking can produce ``Alice'' strings, which alter scattered charges and carry monopole number and charge when twisted into loops. Alice behavior arises algebraically, when a string's untraced Wilson loop obstructs unbroken symmetries -- a fragile criterion. We give a topological criterion, compelling Alice behavior or deforming it away. Our criterion, that π_o(H) acts nontrivially on π_1(H), links topologically Alice strings to topological monopoles. We twist Alice loops to form monopoles, and find nematic and He-3A Alice strings are topologically Alice, carrying fundamental monopole charge when twisted into loops.
dc.description12 pages, 1 figure, text + 2 eps files submitted 4/17/03, revised 12/5/03: technical qualification added, introduction focused, nomenclature clarified
dc.identifierhttps://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/0304161
dc.identifierhttp://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/0304161
dc.identifier.urihttp://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/51899
dc.subjectHigh Energy Physics - Theory
dc.subjectSoft Condensed Matter
dc.titleA Topological Criterion for Alice Strings
dc.typetext

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