Creation of Dirac monopoles in spinor Bose-Einstein condensates

We demonstrate theoretically that using standard external magnetic fields, one can imprint point-like topological defects to the spin texture of a dilute Bose-Einstein condensate. Symmetries of the condensate order parameter render this topological defect to be accompanied with a vortex filament corresponding to the Dirac string of a magnetic monopole. The vorticity in the condensate coincides with the magnetic field of a magnetic monopole, providing an ideal analogue to the monopole studied by Dirac.