What is a magnetic pole?


A magnetic pole is a region present at the two extremes of a magnet, where the magnetic field is the strongest. It has a north and a south pole which are oriented according to the Earth's magnetic field.


At the poles, the intensity of the magnetic field is the highest which is the reason why metallic objects are attracted more toward the pole whether it is the north or south pole.


In their schools, everybody has learned that a magnet can always have a dipole(meaning having two poles), if we try to break the magnet and want to make a monopole it is just impossible to do that by just breaking the magnet into two parts.


But, nowadays much research has been going on which is predicting that it is possible to create a monopole in a magnet. These magnetic monopoles are known as quasi-particles formed by the combination of quantum and classical physics.




Research by the University of Kent:-


According to the research done by the University of Kent, the researchers have studied some materials known as Spin Ices, where the 'hop' of a monopole from one side can be achieved by flipping the direction of a single magnetic atom. 


This flipping of a single magnetic atom cannot be achieved at low temperatures, because at low temperatures the atoms do not have enough energy to do this flip.


This mysterious low-temperature 'hopping' can be achieved at low temperature through 'quantum tunneling' in which the quantum object gains some energy to overcome any obstacle in its path. 


The researchers have said that this motion of monopoles in spin ice materials may enable future technologies to replace the electric charges from conventional sources which are using charges for their conduction. (Source: Science Daily)


Research by London Centre for Nanotechnology(LCN):-


According to the LCN scientists, the magnetic monopole is believed to exist inside the Spin Ice material only and it is free to float independently inside the material.


The first research paper was written in the collaboration of the LCN and Oxford University in which they uses the special neutron scattering technique to image the world in which the monopoles inhabit.


The second research paper was written by Professor Steve Bramwell with the collaboration of the LCN, ISIS, and Oxford University in which ISIS is another UK facility that was responsible for the production of subatomic particles called muons, which were then used as the probe for the magnetic monopoles.


According to professor Bramwell, the Spin Ice material is just like a mini-universe that is practically impossible to understand. This discovery of magnetic monopoles is a big step towards the replacement of electric charges by magnetic monopoles. 


Importance of Magnetic monopoles:-


->Magnetic monopoles are very useful for understanding the dynamics of the strongly coupled gauge field theories.


->These monopoles can be used as the replacement for electric charges which will further increase the production of quantum computers, electric motors, and many more.


->Their existence could lead us to the quantization of magnetic monopoles similar to the quantization of the electric charges.



My Take:-


Researchers have been working on magnetic monopoles from a very early time, and some of them give us positive results while some of them give us negative results but the main concern is that we are improving in this field which will increase our understanding of a magnet. 

These are my thoughts on this concept let me know your thoughts :)