This is an SGER grant to search for particles which might explain the existence of matter we believe exists from the motion of galaxies but which heretofore has been invisible to any detection scheme. Such matter is known as "dark matter". DeRujula, Glashow, et al have hypothesized the existence of dark matter in the form of X-, a stable, singly-charged particle with mass . 1015 V, velocity . 10-3c, and flux . 1cm- 2-sec. In order to begin an exploratory search for the hypothesized X-p cosmic rays, investigators at the University of Arizona will place a mountain altitude three-counter cosmic ray telescope into full operation during the term of this grant. They will search for a reaction cycle: X-p X-d,X- d+12C 13C+p+X-,X- X-p, all within the liquid scintillator of the counters of the detector. Each 12C(d,p)13C reaction will cause a small (relative to charged particles, E 1 eV) scintillation in the detector. They will use coincidence and anticoincidence techniques to veto large charged-particle pulses and photomultiplier tube noise pulses in our telescope's counters. These techniques will allow them to look for a series of small scintillations within each counter, which might be a signature of a slow massive particle moving through the apparatus, catalyzing nuclear reactions. At the end of the term of this grant, they should be able to decide which directions to pursue, such as deuterium-enriched counters, more counters, more electronics, or long data runs.
