Sweeping Away the Monopole Problem

Abstract

We propose a new solution to the cosmological monopole problem in which domain walls sweep away the magnetic monopoles and subsequently decay. The solution does not require extensive fine tuning or model building - it works for the prototype SU(5) Grand Unification model. More generally, it shows that defect interactions can lead to ``defect erasure'' in phase transitions and that this can be relevant to early universe physics.

Comments: 4 pages, RevTeX. Derived cosmological constraints on probability for monopole to pass through domain wall. Corrected formula for wall tension and made consequent changes in other equations. Included references to domain wall evolution papers and further acknowledgements