Massive Magnetic Monopoles Research Articles

Magnetic monopoles from a hidden magnetic symmetry

It is proposed that Magnetic Monopoles (MMs) could originate from a new U(1)M symmetry. Such an abelian symmetry is assumed to be related to the conservation of a magnetic number M. This number is associated with massive MMs corresponding to an expected high scale breaking of the magnetic symmetry. The involved scales are approached and the properties of such MMs are investigated including their detection prospects.

Magnetic monopole search at high altitude with the SLIM experiment

The SLIM 1 1 The SLIM collaboration: S. Balestra, S. Cecchini, M. Cozzi, M. Errico, F. Fabbri, G. Giacomelli, R. Giacomelli, M. Giorgini, A. Kumar, S. Manzoor, J. McDonald, G. Mandrioli, S. Marcellini, A. Margiotta, E. Medinaceli, L. Patrizii, J. Pinfold, V. Popa, I.E. Qureshi, O. Saavedra, Z. Sahnoun, G. Sirri, M. Spurio, V. Togo, A. Velarde, A. Zanini. experiment was an array of 427 m 2 of nuclear track detectors (NTDs), exposed at a high altitude laboratory (Chacaltaya, Bolivia, 5230 m a.s.l.), for ∼4.22 years. SLIM was sensitive to downgoing intermediate mass magnetic monopoles with masses of 10 5 GeV/c 2 ≤ M M ≤ 10 12 GeV/c 2. The analysis of the full detector gives a flux upper limit of 1.3 × 10 −15 cm −2 s −1 sr −1 with the 90% Confidence Level (C.L.) for downgoing fast intermediate mass magnetic monopoles.

Magnetic monopole search at high altitude with the SLIM experiment

The SLIM experiment was a large array of nuclear track detectors located at the Chacaltaya high altitude Laboratory (5230 m a.s.l.). The detector was in particular sensitive to intermediate mass magnetic monopoles, with masses 105 GeV <MM< 1012 GeV. From the analysis of the full detector exposed for more than 4 years a flux upper limit of 1.3×10-15 cm-2 s-1 sr-1 for downgoing fast intermediate mass monopoles was established at the 90% C.L.

Nuclear Track Detectors for Particle Searches

In this paper we report a search for intermediate mass magnetic monopoles and nuclearites using CR39 and Makrofol Nuclear Track Detectors (NTDs) of the SLIM large area experiment, 440 m 2 exposed at the high altitude laboratory of Chacaltaya (Bolivia) and about 100 m 2 at Koksil, Himalaya (Pakistan). We discuss the new chemical etching and improved analysis of the SLIM CR39 sheets. Preliminary limits are based on 316 m 2 of CR39 NTDs exposed for 3.9 y.

Search for SQM in cosmic rays at high altitude laboratories

An experiment to search for intermediate mass magnetic monopoles (105-1012 GeV/c2) and for strangelets or nuclearites in the cosmic radiation is exposed at Chacaltaya Laboratory (5230 m a.s.l.) and at Koksil, Himalaya, (4275 m a.s.l.). With the large area of nuclear track detectors (440 m2 at Chacaltaya and 100 m2 at Koksil) and the long time exposure will reach a sensitivity to the flux of SQM about 10−15 cm−2 s−1 sr−1 sr. The results of the analysis, in terms of search for SQM, of large array of detectors at Chacaltaya and exposed for more than 3.5 y are here reported.

Remarks on a five-dimensional Kaluza-Klein theory of the massive Dirac monopole

The Gross-Perry-Sorkin spacetime, formed by the Euclidean Taub-NUT space with the time trivially added, is the appropriate background of the Dirac magnetic monopole without an explicit mass term. One remarks that there exists a very simple five-dimensional metric of spacetimes carrying massive magnetic monopoles that is an exact solution of the vacuum Einstein equations. Moreover, the same isometry properties as the original Euclidean Taub-NUT space are preserved. This leads to an Abelian Kaluza-Klein theory whose metric appears as a combinations between the Gross-Perry-Sorkin and Schwarzschild ones. The asymptotic motion of the scalar charged test particles is discussed, now by accounting for the mixing between the gravitational and magnetic effects.

Search for intermediate mass magnetic monopoles and nuclearites with the SLIM experiment

SLIM is a large area experiment (440 m 2 ) installed at the Chacaltaya cosmic ray laboratory since 2001, and about 100 m 2 at Koksil, Himalaya, since 2003. It is devoted to the search for intermediate mass magnetic monopoles (10 7 –10 13 GeV/ c 2 ) and nuclearites in the cosmic radiation using stacks of CR-39 and Makrofol nuclear track detectors. In four years of operation it will reach a sensitivity to a flux of about 10 - 15 cm - 2 s - 1 sr - 1 . We present the results of the calibration of CR-39 and Makrofol and the analysis of a first sample of the exposed detector.

Searches for light magnetic monopoles and nuclearites underground, underwater and at high altitudes

We discuss the status of the searches for intermediate mass magnetic monopoles (10 5 m M 12 GeV ) and low mass nuclearites performed with detectors at the Earth's surface, underground, underwater and at high altitudes.

Search for Magnetic Monopoles and for Nuclearites with the MACRO Detector

We discuss the searches for massive magnetic monopoles and for nuclearitesin the penetrating cosmic radiation performed with the MACRO detector. Independent monopole analysis were carried out using the scintillator, streamer tubes and nuclear track sub-detectors in different ranges of velocity. No candidates were found in several years of data taking; present upper flux limits are well below the Parker bound in a wide velocity range. For nuclearites only the scintillator and nuclear track sub-detectors were used.

TOPOLOGICAL DEFECTS IN [SU(6)]3× Z3

We study topological defects arising in the grand unification model SU (6)L⊗ SU (6)c⊗ SU (6)R× Z3. We show that the model does not contain domain walls, while it produces massive magnetic monopoles and it may, depending on the symmetry breaking chain, give rise to the formation of strings. We also discuss the possible relation of these topological defects with the origin of the highest energy cosmic rays detected.

Search for magnetic monopoles and for nuclearites with the MACRO detector at Gran Sasso

We discuss the searches for massive magnetic monopoles (MM) and for nuclearites in the penetrating cosmic radiation performed with the MACRO detector at Gran Sasso. Independent analyses for MM were carried out using the scintillator, streamer tubes and nuclear track subdetectors in different ranges of velocities. No candidates were found in several years of data taking; present flux upper limits for monopoles are well below the Parker bound for monopole velocities ≥ 10 −4c. For nuclearites only the scintillator and nuclear track subdetectors were used; limits are at the level of 10 −15 cm −2s −1sr −1.

Magnetic monopole search with the MACRO detector at Gran Sasso

In this letter we present the results of the search for massive magnetic monopoles in the penetrating cosmic ray radiation using the various subdetectors of the MACRO apparatus, during the period 1989–1995. Flux limits are given for the β = vc range 4 × 10−5 < β < 1; for 10−4 < β < 10−1 the limits are below the Parker bound, ∼ 10−15 cm−2s−1sr−1.

CR-39 plastic for massive magnetic monopole search

A new CR-39 plastic containing a small amount of antioxidants (Naugard-445) has been developed for use in a search for massive magnetic monopoles. Its characteristics have been investigated from the standpoint of the “heavy etching method”, which was proposed several years ago. The results are compared with those of pure CR-39 plastics measured under the same conditions.

Improvements of CR-39 for massive magnetic monopoles search

We have been carrying on massive magnetic monopole search using CR-39 track detector array. For this experiment, we improved the characteristics of CR-39 plastic. A number of different types of CR-39 have been studied by using relativistic heavy ions. These results are compared each other, focussing in particular on the sensitivity for penetrating holes which are produced along each particle path and on the stability for a long exposure. The results for CR-39 doped with a small amount of antioxidants (Naugard 445) indicate significant improvement in all regards.

Deep Underground Search for Massive Magnetic Monopoles by CR-39 Plastic Track Detector

A 80 m 2 detector array consisting of two layers of CR-39 plastic track detector and an iron absorber was exposed at deep underground (2700 m.w.e.) in Kamioka mine for 1.8 yr. This plastic plate can detect tracks of penetrating monopoles with energy loss rate greater than that of a neucleus with \(Z/\beta \gtrsim 10\). Considering recoil of the C and O atoms in CR-39 due to diamagnetic repulsion, CR-39 plastic detector is considered to be sensitive to the monopoles at velocities down to about 10 -4 c. We have found no monopole candidate, and this implies that the upper limit on the flux of grand-unified-theory monopoles with υ∼10 -4 c or υ> 5.5×10 -3 c is 3.0×10 -14 cm -2 s -1 sr -1 at 90% confidence level.

New upper bound on the flux of cosmic magnetic monopoles

Grand unification theories (GUTs) suggest that massive magnetic monopoles (mass ∼1016 GeV) were created in the very early stages of the formation of the Universe. The report, 3 years ago1, of a candidate cosmic magnetic monopole therefore stimulated intense experimental and theoretical activity2,3. These monopoles should have the magnetic charge h/e predicted by Dirac4, or perhaps small integer multiples of h/e, but zero electric charge. Surviving magnetic monopoles are thought to be moving so slowly, v/c = 10−3 or less, that they interact exceedingly weakly with matter. For this reason, conventional particle detectors (whose mechanism is electronic ionization or excitation) are expected to be rather insensitive5, so that inductive detectors are particularly attractive. We describe here the results of 6 months observation with a large inductive detector. Some putative events have been seen, but none of them seem to have been induced by a monopole. Our total exposure (detector area–time product) is now about 230 times that of Cabrera's first experiment, so that it seems increasingly likely that his original candidate event was spurious.

SO(14) GUT Models with Fractionally Charged Color Singlets and Low Mass Magnetic Monopoles

Five SO(14) CUT Models are proposed and thoroughly discussed. The first two models contain low mass magnetic monopoles. The last three models contain fractionally charged color singlets including objects. The evolution of is also discussed.

Sonic search for monopoles, gravitational waves and newtorites

Hopes for the detection of gravitational waves and of very massive magnetic monopoles rely on cosmological sources - the big bang itself in the monopole's case. Some gravitational wave antennas are “acoustic” resonant detectors, that have reached a sensitivity not far from the “quantum limit”. We investigate in detail the response of these sensitive detectors to the passage of “relic” monopoles. We compute signal to noise ratios for a variety of target materials, and we find them to be favourable for the very cold, high quality resonators that are presently contemplated. A monopole traversing a metal produces a “thermo-acoustic” pulse, whose amplitude is linear in the monopole's velocity, β. If the metal is superconducting, there is a novel additional “magneto-acoustic” source, whose amplitude is β-independent. Monopole detectors that rely on ionization have a sensitivity threshold in β, and may conceivably be blind to relic monopoles. The response of superconducting loop detectors is β-independent, but their collection areas are limited by the requirement of a sophisticated magnetic shielding. Neither of the above limitations would be shared by an acoustic monopole detector. We sketch a “sonic antenna” that would respond directionally to coventional cosmic rays, gravitational radiation, monopoles, and even to more exotic signals, like newtorites (elementary or composite “meteorites” that interact with ordinary matter only gravitationally).

Massive Magnetic Monopoles in Cosmology and Astrophysics

The astrophysical and cosmological consequences of magnetic monopoles are discussed. The production of monopoles during phase transition in the early universe is addressed, and proposals which have been made to alleviate the monopole problem are summarized. Astrophysical limits on galactic magnetic monopoles are discussed along with experimental efforts to detect monopoles. Finally, monopole-induced proton decay is addressed. 48 references.

Search for massive magnetic monopoles using plastic track detectors characteristics of CR-39 plastic for detecting monopoles

We are setting up a large scale (1000 m 2) monopole search experiment using a highly sensitive plastic track detector CR-39. By applying a heavy etching method, this detector will perform a background-free search for GUT monopoles down to a flux of 10 -16 cm -2 sec -1 sr -1 in the velocity range 10 -3 < β < 1. To realize such an experiment, we have made some effort for improving the sensitivity of CR-39 plastic and the uniformity of thickness, and for reducing the number of background holes. These results will be reported as well as our experimental plan.