A Search for Magnetic Monopoles with IceCube and a Characterization of Log-Periodic Dipole Antennas for ARIANNA
by
Alexander Burgman
→
Europe/Stockholm
Å12167
Å12167
Description
Abstract:
Magnetic monopoles are allowed in most extensions of the standard model. They are allowed in a wide range of masses, of which a large part lies outside of the reach of modern colliders. Therefore, in order to investigate the high mass range of magnetic monopoles we must search for monopoles produced in higher energy environments, such as the early Universe.
According to Dirac’s quantization condition, a magnetic monopole would have a large effective charge compared to the elementary electric charge. This high effective charge would make magnetic monopoles into very bright Cherenkov radiation producers when traversing a dielectric medium, which in turn gives them a clear signature to distinguish from other events.
In this talk I will present my ongoing search for a cosmic flux of magnetic monopoles using the IceCube neutrino observatory. The search is for magnetic monopoles with speeds above the Cherenkov threshold in ice (∼ 76 % of c), and below 99.5 % of c. I will present the current analysis strategy, the progress made so far, and an outlook on the upcoming work.
In addition to this, I will briefly present an effort from the start of my PhD studies, with the goal of characterizing log-periodic dipole antennas for the ARIANNA collaboration. In the ARIANNA project, a large number of these antennas would be deployed at the Ross Ice Shelf with the goal of detecting the highest energy neutrinos by measuring the radio wave radiation produced by their interaction products in ice.
