Consequences of a Monopole with Dirac Magnetic Charge

Abstract

The discovery of a monopole with Dirac magnetic charge, $\frac{e}{2\alpha }$, would imply absolute quark confinement and forbid any free, fractional electrically charged particles, if no unknown long-range forces exist. Further, unification of electromagnetism and QCD would be required. The monopole also carries screened color magnetic fields. Certain alternatives to QCD in which the SU(3) gauge symmetry is broken, partially or completely, are excluded. The inflationary-universe scenario based on SU(5) grand unified theory would be excluded.