Results of search for magnetized quark-nugget dark matter from radial impacts on Earth

TL;DR

This study investigates magnetized quark nuggets as dark matter candidates by analyzing impact events on Earth, using simulations and crater observations to constrain their magnetic properties and interaction characteristics.

Contribution

The paper presents new simulation results and observational analysis that support MQNs as dark matter candidates and constrains their magnetic field strength based on impact evidence.

Findings

Impact craters consistent with MQN impacts observed annually

Magnetopause size causes significant energy deposition in Earth materials

Constraints on MQN magnetic field strength B_o > 0.4 TT

Abstract

Magnetized Quark Nuggets (MQNs) are a recently proposed dark-matter candidate consistent with the Standard Model and with Tatsumi's theory of quark-nugget cores in magnetars. Previous publications have covered their formation in the early universe, aggregation into a broad mass distribution before they can decay by the weak force, interaction with normal matter through their magnetopause, and first observation consistent MQNs, i.e. a nearly tangential impact limiting their surface-magnetic-field parameter B_o from Tatsumi's values of 0.1 to 10.0 TT to new value of 1.65 TT +/- 21%. The MQN mass distribution and interaction cross section depend strongly on B_o. Their magnetopause is much larger than their geometric dimensions and can cause sufficient energy deposition to form non-meteorite craters, which are reported approximately annually. We report computer simulations of the MQN energy deposition in water-saturated peat, soft sediments, and granite and report results from excavating such a crater. Five points of agreement between observations and hydrodynamic simulations of an MQN impact support this second observation consistent with MQN dark matter and suggest a method for qualifying additional MQN events. The results also redundantly constrain B_o to greater than 0.4 TT.