Experimental limits on magnetic monopole catalysis of nucleon decay

Journal Article · Mon Jul 25 04:00:00 EDT 1983 · Phys. Rev. Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.51.245· OSTI ID:5592504

Errede, S; Stone, J L; van der Velde, J C; Bionta, R M; Blewitt, G; Bratton, C B; Cortez, B G; Foster, G W; Gejewski, W; Goldhaber, M

A search for superheavy magnetic monopoles ''catalyzing'' nucleon decay via the reaction M+N..-->..M+e/sup +/+mesons in an underground water Cherenkov detector has been carried out. No positive evidence for such a process has been found during 100 d of detector live time. Within the cross section and velocity ranges sigma/sub c/> or =0.1 mb and 10/sup -6/< or =..beta../sub m/< or =10/sup -1/ sigma/sub c/- and ..beta../sub m/-dependent limits on the monopole flux are presented which go as low as F/sub m/<7.2 x 10/sup -15/ cm/sup -2/ sr/sup -1/ s/sup -1/ (90% C.L.). For very low cross sections, velocity-independent limits on the monopole flux and interaction rate are obtained.

• Research Organization: The University of California at Irvine, Irvine, California 92717; The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109; Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973; California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125; Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio 44115
• OSTI ID: 5592504
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 51:4; ISSN PRLTA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

645102* -- High Energy Physics-- Particle Interactions &amp; Properties-Experimental-- Weak Interactions &amp; Properties
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
BARYONS
BETA DECAY
BOSONS
CATALYTIC EFFECTS
CHERENKOV COUNTERS
CROSS SECTIONS
DECAY
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
HADRONS
MAGNETIC MONOPOLES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MESONS
MONOPOLES
NUCLEONS
PARTICLE MODELS
POSTULATED PARTICLES
RADIATION DETECTORS
UNIFIED GAUGE MODELS