The energy loss of free magnetic poles in passing through matter

Abstract

AbstractDirac has shown that in quantum theory free magnetic poles are possible only if their pole strength g is an integral multiple of ℏc/(2e) = 137e/2. The ionization produced by such particles is calculated by the classical impact parameter method and also by quantal perturbation theory; at sufficiently large velocities the rate of loss of energy of poles of unit strength is g2/e2 ≑ 5000 times as large as that of an electron of the same velocity; at low velocities the energy loss of a monopole decreases steadily without rising to a maximum as in the case of electric particles.