Sources and Magnetic Charge

Julian Schwinger
Phys. Rev. 173, 1536 – Published 25 September 1968
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Abstract

A beginning is made on a phenomenological reconstruction of the theory of magnetic charge. The concept is introduced by reference to a new kind of photon source. It is shown that photon exchange between different source types is relativistically invariant. The space-time generalization of this coupling involves an arbitrary vector. The only way to remove a corresponding arbitrariness of physical predictions is to recognize the localization of charge and impose a charge quantization condition. The consideration of particles that carry both kinds of charge loosens the charge restrictions. The great strength of magnetic attraction indicated by g24π=4(137) suggests that ordinary matter is a magnetically neutral composite of magnetically charged particles that carry fractional electric charge. There is a brief discussion of such a magnetic model of strongly interacting particles, which makes contact with empirical classification schemes. Additional remarks on notation, and on the general nature of the source description, are appended.

  • Received 8 April 1968

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRev.173.1536

©1968 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Julian Schwinger*

  • Institute for Theoretical Physics, State University of New York, Stony Brook, New York

  • *Permanent address: Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.

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Issue

Vol. 173, Iss. 5 — September 1968

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