Search for magnetic monopoles trapped in old iron ores using a superconducting detector
Magnetically trapped monopoles were sought in iron ores using a set of two SQUID (superconducting quantum-interference device) fluxmeters. We operated the apparatus under a sintering furnace in an industrial ore-processing plant for two months and tried to observe a signal of a monopole penetrating superconducting coils after its release from ore paramagnetized through a heat treatment. No candidate events were found consistent with the passage of a magnetic charge greater than 0.6 times Dirac's unit strength g/sub D/. The total weight of ore examined varies between 137 and approx.10/sup 4/ tons, depending on what mechanism is assumed for the release of monopoles. By taking the most modest estimate, we obtain an upper limit of 2.2 x 10/sup -7/ monopoles/g (95% confidence level (C.L.)) for the density of very massive monopoles (10/sup 14/--10/sup 17/ GeV/c/sup 2/) in iron ores which involve ferro/ferri-ferrimagnetic ingredients of age 10/sup 7/--10/sup 9/ yr to the extent of 10%. The free-monopole flux is also obtained as less than 1.4 x 10/sup -10//cm/sup 2/sec sr (90% C.L.), irrespective of its mass or velocity from a 57-d live time of two 20-cm-diam search coils.
- Research Organization:
- Department of Physics, Kobe University, Kobe 657, Japan
- OSTI ID:
- 5712496
- Journal Information:
- Phys. Rev. D; (United States), Vol. 36:11
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
IRON ORES
MAGNETIC MONOPOLES
PARTICLE IDENTIFICATION
BINDING ENERGY
GRAND UNIFIED THEORY
HEAT TREATMENTS
LIFETIME
MAGNETIZATION
SQUID DEVICES
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENERGY
EQUIPMENT
FIELD THEORIES
FLUXMETERS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MICROWAVE EQUIPMENT
MONOPOLES
ORES
PARTICLE MODELS
POSTULATED PARTICLES
SUPERCONDUCTING DEVICES
UNIFIED GAUGE MODELS
UNIFIED-FIELD THEORIES
645101* - High Energy Physics- Particle Interactions & Properties-Experimental- Electromagnetic Interactions & Properties