Search for Strange Quark Matter and Q-Balls with the SLIM Experiment.
Zouleikha SahnounAstrophys. Dept. CRAAG, Algiers & INFN Bologna, Italy
Search for SQM and Q-Balls in the SLIM Experiment
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The SLIM experimentSearch for LIght Magnetic monopoles
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Search for SQM and Q-Balls in the SLIM Experiment
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The SLIM experimentSearch for LIght Magnetic monopoles
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Dependent on the deposited energy : Restricted Energy Loss (REL)
Calibration curves p versus REL
m Nuclear fragment
Fast MM
SlowMM
1 mm
CR39
Al
LEXAN
Search for SQM and Q-Balls in the SLIM Experiment
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Strange Quark Matteralias SQM, Nuclearites, Strangelets, Quark Bags
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Search for SQM and Q-Balls in the SLIM Experiment
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Strange Quark Matteralias SQM, Nuclearites, Strangelets, Quark Bags
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Nuclearites Energy Loss
24th ICNTS 01/09/2008 Search for SQM and Q-Balls in the SLIM Experiment
Elastic and quasi-elastic collisions with atoms and molecules
10-5 10-4 10-3 10-2101
102
103
104
105
106
107
Monopoles, g = 2g D
M N = 10
19 GeV
M N = 10
17 GeV
Nuclea
rites,
M N < 8.
4 x 10
14 GeV
CR39 Threshold
RE
L (M
eV g
-1 c
m2 )
Search for SQM and Q-Balls in the SLIM Experiment
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The Minimum velocity versus mass for Nuclearites at the top of the atmosphere to be detected by the SLIM experiment.
108 109 1010 1011 1012 1013 1014 1015 101610-6
10-5
10-4
10-3
10-2
10-1
100
101
Nuclearite Mass (GeV/c2)
min
SLIM could record any nuclearite with mass above 3 1010 GeV/c2
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StrangeletsCharacteristic signature:
A very low charge to mass (Z/A) ratio!
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StrangeletsBehave like ordinary nuclei
Same acceleration processes and Energy Loss !
10-5 10-4 10-3 10-2 10-1 100
102
103
104
CR39 (DOP) threshold
CR39 Threshold
Z=14, A=300 Z=17, A=400 Z=21, A=580 Z=46, A=1000
RE
L (M
eVg-1
cm2 )
Restricted energy loss of strangelets in CR39 Nuclear track detectors
Search for SQM and Q-Balls in the SLIM Experiment
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Strangelets Propagation in Atmosphere
Two kinds of phenomenological models:
• Strangelets losing mass when colliding with air nuclei: - Wilk,G. et al. J. Phys. G 22 (1996) L105.
• Small strangelets accreting neutrons and protons increasing their mass and charge. - Banerjee S., et al., J. Phys. G 25 (1999) L15.
Search for SQM and Q-Balls in the SLIM Experiment
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Strangelets Propagation in Atmosphere
Two kinds of phenomenological models:
• Strangelets losing mass when colliding with air nuclei: - Wilk,G. et al. J. Phys. G 22 (1996) L105.
Minimum Baryon number to reach Chacaltaya Laboratory Ainitial> 2200.
Search for SQM and Q-Balls in the SLIM Experiment
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• Small strangelets accreting neutrons and protons increasing their mass and charge. - Banerjee S., et al., J. Phys. G 25 (1999) L15.
For Zinitial = 2 above atmosphere
Z at Chacaltaya about 14
Search for SQM and Q-Balls in the SLIM Experiment
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Predictions
102 103 104 10510-14
10-13
10-12
10-11
10-10
10-9
A-7.5
Flux
(cm
-2s-1
sr-1)
A
Chacaltaya Laboratory 540 g/cm2 (1sr):- Madsen: ~ 300 events/100 m2 / year.- Wilk*: ~ 6 events/100 m2 / year.- Banerjee*: ~5-10 events/100 m2 / year.
Two fluxes proposed:
Strange star binary collision + propagation in the galaxy: F A-0.467 Z-1.2 max[RSM, RGC]-1.2.
Candidate events + relative abundance of elements in the Universe: F A-7.5.
J. Madsen, Phys. Rev. D71 (2005) 014026
Rybczynski M. et al. Nucl. Phys. B (Proc. Suppl.) 151 (2006) 341
Search for SQM and Q-Balls in the SLIM Experiment
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Experimental Results
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The analysis of 427 m2 of NTDS exposed for 4.22 years showed NO EVENT
109 1011 1013 1015 1017 1019 1021 1023 102510-16
10-14
= 10-3
Galactic D
ark Matter Lim
it
NORIKURA
OHYA
MACRO
SLIM
M (GeV/c2)
Flux
Upp
er L
imit
(cm
-2s-1
sr-1)
MACRO+SLIM
Flux Upper Limits at 90% C.L. for downgoing Strange Quark Matter
1.3 10-15 cm-2 s-1 sr-1
Nuclearites
Search for SQM and Q-Balls in the SLIM Experiment
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Experimental Results
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The analysis of 427 m2 of NTDS exposed for 4.22 years showed NO EVENT
Flux Upper Limits at 90% C.L. for downgoing Strange Quark Matter
1.3 10-15 cm-2 s-1 sr-1
Propagation Models ?
Banerjee et al. May be excluded.
Wilk et al. Only marginaly excluded.
Strangelets
102 103 104 105
10-15
10-14
10-13
10-12
10-11
10-10
10-9
( 0.4)
(0.8)
( 0.7)
0.6
0.8
Ordinary Strangelets
SLIM
TREKSkyLabHEAO-3ARIEL-6
Price event
ET event
Flux
Upp
er L
imit
(cm
-2sr
-1s-1
)
A
HECRO-81
CFL Strangelets
0.9
Search for SQM and Q-Balls in the SLIM Experiment
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Q-Balls
- Neutral Q-balls (SENS) main interaction process is the catalysis of proton decay. Not relevant for NTDs.
- Charged Q-balls (SECS) are similar to nuclearites and strangelets and behave like ordinary nuclei: same interaction processes !
Dark Matter candidate.
Hypothetical coherent states of squarks, sleptons and Higgs fields.
10-5 10-4 10-3 10-2102
103
CR39 (DOP) Threshold
CR39 Threshold
ZQ = 13e
ZQ =1e
RE
L (M
eVg-1
cm2 )
Search for SQM and Q-Balls in the SLIM Experiment
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Flux Upper Limit of Charged Q-Balls
107 109 1011 1013 1015 1017 1019 1021 1023 102510-16
10-14
Flux
Upp
er L
imit
(cm
-2s-1
sr-1)
M (GeV/c2)
KITAMI
Q-Balls, ZQ >10e
= 2 .10-3
Galactic D
ark Matter Lim
it
OHYA
SLIM
MACRO
NORIKURA
Search for SQM and Q-Balls in the SLIM Experiment
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Conclusion
• The SLIM experiment was able to detect Strange Quark Matter charged Q-balls .
• The null observation sets a flux upper limit at the 90% C.L. of 1.3 10-15 cm-2 s-1 sr-1
• Models of strangelets propagation through the Earth atmosphere were constrained.
Search for SQM and Q-Balls in the SLIM Experiment
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Thank You.