Erratum to: Search for non-relativistic magnetic monopoles with IceCube

• Published in: The European Physical Journal C
• Main Authors: Aartsen, M. G., Abbasi, R., Bai, X., Hallen, P., Hallgren, A., Halzen, F., Hanson, K., Hebecker, D., Heereman, D., Heinen, D., Helbing, K., Hellauer, R., Hickford, S., Baker, M., Hill, G. C., Hoffman, K. D., Hoffmann, R., Homeier, A., Hoshina, K., Huang, F., Huelsnitz, W., Hulth, P. O., Hultqvist, K., Hussain, S., Barwick, S. W., Ishihara, A., Jacobi, E., Jacobsen, J., Jagielski, K., Japaridze, G. S., Jero, K., Jlelati, O., Kaminsky, B., Kappes, A., Karg, T., Baum, V., Karle, A., Kauer, M., Kelley, J. L., Kiryluk, J., Klas, J., Klein, S. R., Kohne, J. H., Kohnen, G., Kolanoski, H., Kopke, L., Bay, R., Kopper, C., Kopper, S., Koskinen, D. J.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Springer 2019
• Subjects: info:eu-repo/classification/ddc/530; nucleon: decay; monopole: trajectory; p: decay; radiation: Cherenkov; nonrelativistic; IceCube: sensitivity; grand unified theory; magnetic monopole; Cherenkov counter; observatory; new physics; signature; big bang; trigger; flux; Antarctic; Antarc*
• Online Access: https://bib-pubdb1.desy.de/record/435007; https://bib-pubdb1.desy.de/search?p=id:%22PUBDB-2020-00503%22

The IceCube Neutrino Observatory is a large Cherenkov detector instrumenting $1\,\mathrm{km}^3$ of Antarctic ice. The detector can be used to search for signatures of particle physics beyond the Standard Model. Here, we describe the search for non-relativistic, magnetic monopoles as remnants of the GUT (Grand Unified Theory) era shortly after the Big Bang. These monopoles may catalyze the decay of nucleons via the Rubakov-Callan effect with a cross section suggested to be in the range of $10^{-27}\,\mathrm{cm^2}$ to $10^{-21}\,\mathrm{cm^2}$. In IceCube, the Cherenkov light from nucleon decays along the monopole trajectory would produce a characteristic hit pattern. This paper presents the results of an analysis of first data taken from May 2011 until May 2012 with a dedicated slow-particle trigger for DeepCore, a subdetector of IceCube. A second analysis provides better sensitivity for the brightest non-relativistic monopoles using data taken from May 2009 until May 2010. In both analyses no monopole signal was observed. For catalysis cross sections of $10^{-22}\,(10^{-24})\,\mathrm{cm^2}$ the flux of non-relativistic GUT monopoles is constrained up to a level of $\Phi_{90} \le 10^{-18}\,(10^{-17})\,\mathrm{cm^{-2}s^{-1}sr^{-1}}$ at a 90% confidence level, which is three orders of magnitude below the Parker bound. The limits assume a dominant decay of the proton into a positron and a neutral pion. These results improve the current best experimental limits by one to two orders of magnitude, for a wide range of assumed speeds and catalysis cross sections.