Electroweak dumbbell configurations and their dynamics

We numerically study the static configurations and subsequent evolution of monopole-antimonopole pairs joined by a Z-string or "dumbbells" that arise in the electroweak theory. We have constructed the static configurations of the dumbbells for a range of separations and twists, a novel parameter that has vital implications on the energy and subsequent dynamics of the configuration. The unstable static solutions are obtained by numerical relaxation and will serve as initial condition. The numerical scheme has been used to study the zero separation case which agrees with previous results obtained for the electroweak sphaleron by Manton. Outline of ongoing work to study their evolution for a range of initial separations and angular momentum will be presented. The primary aim is to study generated signals and the lifetime of these configurations, as the initially twisted dumbbells untwist while rotating and eventually undergo mutual annihilation. This study could have interesting implications in high energy experiments searches for monopoles and cosmology, especially cosmic magnetic fields generated in the early Universe.