Spin monopoles with Bose-Einstein condensates

We study the feasibility of preparing a Bose-Einstein condensed sample of atoms in a macroscopic quantum state that resembles a spin monopole. In this state, the atomic internal spins lie in the $x\ensuremath{-}y$ plane and point along the radial direction. The stability and dynamics of this structure are studied analytically in some cases and numerically in the more general situation. We find these structures to be stable objects giving rise to a nontrivial state of a Bose-Einstein condensate.