Results of the Search for Strange Quark Matter and Q-balls with the SLIM Experiment

TL;DR

The SLIM experiment searched for exotic particles like nuclearites, Q-balls, and strangelets in cosmic radiation, finding no candidates and setting new upper limits on their flux, thereby constraining related theoretical models.

Contribution

This study provides the first extensive search for nuclearites and Q-balls at high altitude, establishing new flux limits and constraining strangelet propagation models.

Findings

No candidate events detected in 427 m^2 over 4.22 years.

Established new upper flux limits for nuclearites and Q-balls.

Constrained models of strangelet propagation through Earth's atmosphere.

Abstract

The SLIM experiment at the Chacaltaya high altitude laboratory was sensitive to nuclearites and Q-balls, which could be present in the cosmic radiation as possible Dark Matter components. It was sensitive also to strangelets, i.e. small lumps of Strange Quark Matter predicted at such altitudes by various phenomenological models. The analysis of 427 m^2 of Nuclear Track Detectors exposed for 4.22 years showed no candidate event. New upper limits on the flux of downgoing nuclearites and Q-balls at the 90% C.L. were established. The null result also restricts models for strangelets propagation through the Earth atmosphere.