S(1)XS(2) WORMHOLES AND TOPOLOGICAL CHARGE

I investigate solutions to the Euclidean Einstein-matter field equations with the topology S1 X S2 X R in a theory with a massless periodic scalar field and electromagnetism. These solutions carry the winding number of the periodic scalar as well as magnetic flux. They induce violations of a quasitopological conservation law which conserves the product of the magnetic flux and winding number on the background spacetime. I extend these solutions to a model with stable loops of superconducting cosmic string and interpret them as contributing to the decay of such loops.