http://hdl.handle.net/10090/5577 Search the Channel search http://dspace.nitle.org/simple-search http://hdl.handle.net/10090/6031 Title: Gauge theories, solitons, and monopoles <br/> <br/>Authors: Mohar, Wasil <br/> <br/>Abstract: Gauge theories are believed to underlie all elementary particle interactions. Starting from the Lagrangian formulation of mechanics, this thesis proceeds to develop Lagrangian field theory, and the principle of local gauge invariance. It is shown how local gauge invariance can be used to account for the electromagnetic, strong, and weak interactions. The ideas of spontaneous symmetry breaking and the Higgs mechanism are shown to be essential for the description of the weak interactions. These concepts,combined with a knowledge of solitons, which are localized static steady-profile wave solutions, are then used to investigate the triplet Higgs model, which is shown to possess magnetic monopole solutions. <br/> <br/>Description: vii, 73 leaves : ill. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 72-73). Thesis (B.A.)--Middlebury College, 2006.