Overview of strangelet searches and Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer: when will we stop searching?

摘要

The search for strange quark matter (SQM), as relic strangelets on Earth, as produced in accelerator experiments, and as components of the cosmic radiation is reviewed. Although no SQM has been detected, the question as to its existence remains open. A new experiment, the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS), to be mounted on the International Space Station offers the possibility of a definitive answer to the question. The design and potential of AMS are reviewed.