Disclinations in the Geometric Theory of Defects

Abstract

In the geometric theory of defects, media with a spin structure, for example, ferromagnet, is considered as a manifold with given Riemann--Cartan geometry. We consider the case with the Euclidean metric corresponding to the absence of elastic deformations but with nontrivial ${\mathbb S}{\mathbb O}(3)$-connection which produces nontrivial curvature and torsion tensors. We show that the 't Hooft--Polyakov monopole has physical interpretation in solid state physics describing media with continuous distribution of dislocations and disclinations. The Chern--Simons action is used for the description of single disclinations. Two examples of point disclinations are considered: spherically symmetric point "hedgehog" disclination and the point disclination for which the $n$-field has a fixed value at infinity and essential singularity at the origin. The example of linear disclinations with the Franc vector divisible by $2\pi$ is considered.