Magnetic charges, inertia, and arrow of time

Abstract

The prerelativistic concept of inertial mass (as opposed to gravitational mass) is reconsidered in view of a possible relationship between inertia and magnetic (mass) monopoles. Assuming that such “fictitious” (topological) charges could have developed in the chaotic early cosmology, a physical principle is suggested, based on dissipation of topological charges and decoupling of interactions, which could have governed the onset of inertia and of the arrow of time, and controlled the critical balance between mass density and expansion rate in the FRW universe. In view of the recent accomplishments in the detection of Dirac monopoles, a generalization of the Eotvos experiment is proposed which could shed light on the grand unification regime. A comment is given on the issue of relating the psychological and the cosmological arrows of time.