We develop topological criteria for the existence of electroweak magnetic monopoles and Z-strings and extend the Kibble mechanism to study their formation during the electroweak phase transition. The distribution of magnetic monopoles produces magnetic fields that have a spectrum $B_lambda propto lambda^{-2}$ where $lambda$ is a smearing length scale. Even as the magnetic monopoles annihilate due to the confining Z-strings, the magnetic field evolves with the turbulent plasma and may be relevant for cosmological observations.
Download