2004/05/31 by Vítor Cardoso, V. Cardoso, M. C. Espirito Santo +6 · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #Black Holes and Theoretical Physics #Cosmology and Gravitation Theories #Particle physics theoretical and experimental studies #hep-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1016/j.astropartphys.2004.09.006
published as Astropart.Phys.22:399-407,2005 · revised version, 5 figures
arxiv created 2004/06/21 · openalex publication_date 2004/11/08 · arxiv updated 2011/05/23 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
According to recent conjectures on the existence of large extra dimensions in our universe, black holes may be produced during the interaction of Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays with the atmosphere. However, and so far, the proposed signatures are based on statistical effects, not allowing identification on an event by event basis, and may lead to large uncertainties. In this note, events with a double bang topology, where the production and instantaneous decay of a microscopic black hole (first bang) is followed, at a measurable distance, by the decay of an energetic tau lepton (second bang) are proposed as an almost background free signature. The characteristics of these events and the capability of large cosmic ray experiments to detect them are discussed.