Search for Primordial Black Holes from the International Space Station with the SQM-ISS detector

TL;DR

This paper evaluates the SQM-ISS detector's potential to identify primordial black holes and strange quark matter particles in cosmic rays, contributing to dark matter research.

Contribution

It introduces the use of the SQM-ISS detector on the ISS for detecting slow, massive particles like primordial black holes, expanding observational capabilities.

Findings

Detector can identify highly penetrating, slow-moving massive particles

Sensitivity range includes primordial black holes with galactic velocities

Potential to contribute to dark matter detection efforts

Abstract

In this paper we discuss the observational capabilities and sensitivity of the SQM-ISS detector to primordial black holes. The SQM-ISS experiment aims to detect slow, non relativistic massive particles within cosmic rays, using a detector on board the International Space Station. The device is designed to recognize the passage of highly penetrating and dense particles in a wide range of mass and charge states such as Strange Quark Matter (SQM). These particles, traveling at speeds typical of gravitationally bound objects in the galaxy - around 250 km/s - are also possible candidates of dark matter. The ability of SQM-ISS to identify penetrating, massive and slow-moving objects allows it also to be sensitive to the detection of primordial black holes. We discuss how black holes, traveling through the detector at velocities compatible with galactic orbital speeds, can be identified based on their interaction signatures.