Search for Exotic Double Tracks with the IceCube Neutrino Telescope
Dipl.-Phys. Kopper, Sandro
Derivate 6711
8.76 MB in one file, last changed at 22.01.2018
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Physics theories beyond the Standard Model, like supersymmetry
and models with extra dimensions, often invoke Z2-symmetries in
order to avoid new couplings that lead to unobserved new physics,
like unnaturally fast proton decay. This gives rise to the possibility
of heavy new particles being produced in pairs with the lightest of
them being (meta-)stable. Thus, under favorable conditions, neutrinos
in the PeV range can produce pairs of exotic, charged particles
that can be seen in a km3-sized detector as two parallel, muon-like
tracks with a track separation of a few hundred meters.
This thesis discusses methods for simulating and reconstructing
these exotic double tracks for the case of the IceCube neutrino observatory
located at the geographic South Pole. It deals with techniques
to separate them from other air shower or neutrino-induced muon
events in a model independent way.
The search for such events with data taken by the IceCube detector
in its 79-string configuration between May 2010 and May 2011 resulted
in no candidate events. This result can be used to derive limits
that can be applied to explicit exotic models.
As this is the first analysis of its kind, the prospects and requirements
of future double track searches are also addressed.