New physics from ultrahigh energy cosmic rays

Journal Article · Thu Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 2007 · Physical Review. D, Particles Fields

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVD.75.055002· OSTI ID:21020087

Illana, J I; Masip, M ^[1]; Meloni, D ^[2]

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1. CAFPE and Depto. de Fisica Teorica y del Cosmos, Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada (Spain)
2. INFN and Dipto. di Fisica, Universita degli Studi di Roma 'La Sapienza', 00185 Rome (Italy)

Cosmic rays from outer space enter the atmosphere with energies of up to 10{sup 11} GeV. The initial particle or a secondary hadron inside the shower may then interact with an air nucleon to produce nonstandard particles. In this article we study the production of new physics by high energy cosmic rays, focusing on the long-lived gluino of split-SUSY models and a weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP) working as dark matter. We first deduce the total flux of hadron events at any depth in the atmosphere, showing that secondary hadrons can not be neglected. Then we use these results to find the flux of gluinos and WIMPs that reach the ground after being produced inside air showers. We also evaluate the probability of producing these exotic particles in a single proton shower of ultrahigh energy. Finally we discuss the possible signal in current and projected experiments. While the tiny flux of WIMPs does not seem to have any phenomenological consequences, we show that the gluinos could modify substantially the profile of a small fraction of extensive air showers. In particular, they could produce a distinct signal observable at AUGER in showers of large zenith angle.

• OSTI ID: 21020087
• Journal Information: Physical Review. D, Particles Fields, Journal Name: Physical Review. D, Particles Fields Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 75; ISSN PRVDAQ; ISSN 0556-2821
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
ENERGY SPECTRA
EXTENSIVE AIR SHOWERS
NONLUMINOUS MATTER
PARTICLE IDENTIFICATION
PARTICLE INTERACTIONS
PARTICLE PRODUCTION
PEV RANGE
SPARTICLES
SUPERSYMMETRY
WEAK INTERACTIONS