Renormalized quantum stress–energy tensor for massive spinor fields around global monopoles

The renormalized quantum stress–energy tensor [Formula: see text] for a massive spinor field around global monopoles is constructed within the framework of Schwinger–DeWitt approximation, valid whenever the Compton length of the quantum field is much less than the characteristic radius of the curvature of the background geometry. The results obtained show that the quantum massive spinor field in the global monopole spacetime violates all the pointwise energy conditions.

Cosmological evolution of semilocal string networks

Semilocal strings—a particular limit of electroweak strings—are an interesting example of a stable non-topological defect whose properties resemble those of their topological cousins, the Abrikosov–Nielsen–Olesen vortices. There is, however, one important difference: a network of semilocal strings will contain segments. These are ‘dumbbells’ whose ends behave almost like global monopoles that are strongly attracted to one another. While closed loops of string will eventually shrink and disappear, the segments can either shrink or grow, and a cosmological network of semilocal strings will reach a scaling regime. We discuss attempts to find a ‘thermodynamic’ description of the cosmological evolution and scaling of a network of semilocal strings, by analogy with well-known descriptions for cosmic strings and for monopoles. We propose a model for the time evolution of an overall length scale and typical velocity for the network as well as for its segments, and some supporting (preliminary) numerical evidence. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Topological avatars of new physics’.

Magnetic Global Monopoles from Torsion

In the search of avatars of new physics, we present a new classical solution for electromagnetic monopoles induced by global gravitational monopoles in the presence of a four-dimensional Kalb-Ramond axion field. The torsion induces the magnetic charge of the monopole.

Global monopole in a broken-symmetric theory of gravitation

We investigate global monopole solutions in a particular kind of scalar–tensor theory of gravity, viz. the broken-symmetric theory of gravity. Invoking the “hedgehog” ansatz for the scalar field, we derive the metric corresponding to global monopole solutions. The global monopole solutions found are independent of the scale of symmetry breaking unlike the Barriola–Vilenkin global monopoles in Einstein’s General Relativity (GR) which intrinsically depend on the symmetry breaking scale.

Global monopoles in f(R) gravity

In this study, we investigate whether global monopoles cause black holes or wormholes to form. Field equations for static spherically symmetric spacetimes with global monopoles are obtained in [Formula: see text] gravity. We found exact solutions for the field equations without using any perturbation or approximation methods. It is shown that the obtained [Formula: see text] function is in accordance with the [Formula: see text]-cold dark matter ([Formula: see text]-CDM) model. Also, it is shown that the static spherically symmetric spacetimes associated with global monopoles form black holes or wormhole structures under some restrictions. Finally, geometrical and physical results of the solutions are discussed.