Search for magnetic monopoles with the MoEDAL forward trapping detector in 2.11 fb$^{-1}$ of 13 TeV proton-proton collisions at the LHC

TL;DR

This study updates the search for magnetic monopoles at the LHC using the MoEDAL detector, setting new constraints on monopoles with charges 2-5 times the Dirac charge based on 2.11 fb$^{-1}$ of data.

Contribution

It presents the most comprehensive laboratory constraints to date on magnetic monopoles with high magnetic charges, using an expanded dataset and additional theoretical models.

Findings

No monopoles detected within the sensitivity of the experiment.

Excluded monopoles with charges ≥ 2× Dirac charge in all samples.

Set the best current limits for monopoles with charges 2-5 times the Dirac charge.

Abstract

We update our previous search for trapped magnetic monopoles in LHC Run 2 using nearly six times more integrated luminosity and including additional models for the interpretation of the data. The MoEDAL forward trapping detector, comprising 222~kg of aluminium samples, was exposed to 2.11~fb$^{-1}$ of 13 TeV proton-proton collisions near the LHCb interaction point and analysed by searching for induced persistent currents after passage through a superconducting magnetometer. Magnetic charges equal to the Dirac charge or above are excluded in all samples. The results are interpreted in Drell-Yan production models for monopoles with spins 0, 1/2 and 1: in addition to standard point-like couplings, we also consider couplings with momentum-dependent form factors. The search provides the best current laboratory constraints for monopoles with magnetic charges ranging from two to five times the Dirac charge.