In:
The European Physical Journal C, Springer Science and Business Media LLC, Vol. 74, No. 7 ( 2014-07)
Abstract:
The IceCube Neutrino Observatory is a large Cherenkov detector instrumenting $$1\,\mathrm {km}^3$$ 1 km 3 of Antarctic ice. The detector can be used to search for signatures of particle physics beyond the Standard Model. Here, we describe the search for non-relativistic, magnetic monopoles as remnants of the G rand U nified T heory (GUT) era shortly after the Big Bang. Depending on the underlying gauge group these monopoles may catalyze the decay of nucleons via the Rubakov–Callan effect with a cross section suggested to be in the range of $$10^{-27}$$ 10 - 27 to $$10^{-21}\,\mathrm {cm^2}$$ 10 - 21 cm 2 . In IceCube, the Cherenkov light from nucleon decays along the monopole trajectory would produce a characteristic hit pattern. This paper presents the results of an analysis of first data taken from May 2011 until May 2012 with a dedicated slow-particle trigger for DeepCore, a subdetector of IceCube. A second analysis provides better sensitivity for the brightest non-relativistic monopoles using data taken from May 2009 until May 2010. In both analyses no monopole signal was observed. For catalysis cross sections of $$10^{-22}\,(10^{-24})\,\mathrm {cm^2}$$ 10 - 22 ( 10 - 24 ) cm 2 the flux of non-relativistic GUT monopoles is constrained up to a level of $$\Phi _{90} \le 10^{-18}\,(10^{-17})\,\mathrm {cm^{-2}\,s^{-1}\,sr^{-1}}$$ Φ 90 ≤ 10 - 18 ( 10 - 17 ) cm - 2 s - 1 sr - 1 at a 90 % confidence level, which is three orders of magnitude below the Parker bound. The limits assume a dominant decay of the proton into a positron and a neutral pion. These results improve the current best experimental limits by one to two orders of magnitude, for a wide range of assumed speeds and catalysis cross sections.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1434-6044
,
1434-6052
DOI:
10.1140/epjc/s10052-014-2938-8
Language:
English
Publisher:
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Publication Date:
2014
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1397769-6
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1459069-4
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