Search for supermassive magnetic monopoles using mica crystals

The survival of the Galactic magnetic field almost certainly sets an astrophysical upper bound of approx. 10 to the minus 15th power cm(-2) sr(-1) s(-1) on the flux of monopoles. To improve significantly upon this Parker limit with direct, real time searches would require a detector area of approx. 10,000 square meters and a collection time of years. Several such searches are being contemplated. A novel alternative scheme using large mica crystals capable of recording and storing tracks of slow monopoles over a time scale of approx. 10 to the 9th power years was proposed.