Yablon wrote:Q-reeus:
Let me take a stab at an answer which I hope will be satisfactory. I would have to say that these are monopoles of the original Dirac type, because they are derived from a differential equation which, as one of its solutions, gives the original DQC, and also because I am not using any type of spontaneous symmetry breaking in the manner of 't Hooft, which is what leads to real, observable, topologically stable monopoles which would be a true dual per Maxwell. However, because the original Dirac monopoles asymptotically behave identically to some of the 't Hooft monopole solutions (which depend on the GUT group G and how it is broken down), I would also say that the monopoles I am describing to correspond with the asymptotic behavior of some TP monopoles and so could be true dressed particles. There are several points in the paper which I refer to the asymptotic correspondence, because the point I was trying to bring out (whether I succeeded is another question) is that these could be physical monopoles via a connection to the analysis of 't Hooft. This also makes the GUT arena (eqs. (2.23) to (2.27) and related discussion) a bit tricky because there you presumably can no longer use the asymptotic solution but are getting right on top of the bare particle. In general, a connection to TP is one of the "physical interpretations" that one would engage in, after totally elaborating the mathematical solutions of the Wu-Yang differential equation. Dirac's two-step is a very good pedagogical approach to always bear in mind. Jay
Thanks Jay. It has sort of helped.

It always seemed to me that original Dirac 'monopole' was somewhat fanciful in that there were imo big unaddressed questions over dynamical stability of the 'real entity' i.e. flux tube. Like what would prevent spontaneous longitudinal contraction, or transverse knotting/bulging/snaking etc. Maybe ultimately no more an issue than stability of a 'point particle' but I somehow doubt that.
It may not matter in the context of your scenarios envisaged but as I pointed out elsewhere a Dirac monopole would interact very differently with say a ring supercurrent than would a ME dual monopole. Point monopole vs Dirac 'monopole' free to circulate within an ordinary toroidal solenoid is another scenario that brings out issues (threading vs 'cutting' etc.). So imo 'identical dynamics' may have a somewhat limited range of validity but to repeat that may have no bearing on your application.
Anyway will try and watch in now and then to see how your project develops - especially feedback from peers who understand your ideas and maths language far better than I.