Letter of intent to the SPSC: a novel search for free quarks produced in heavy-ion interactions

We propose a novel search for free anti-diquarks ( uu = ) Q with electric charge −4/3 produced in heavy-ion collisions induced by an ultra relativistic heavy-ion beam, for example, the Pb beam at CERN or the Au beam at BNL. Stopping the Qs in a dewar of liquid deuterium, will allow the Qs to catalyze d-d fusion by rapidly forming ddQ molecules. The resultant products stop in a short distance, by the ionization of the D 2 . When the ions and electrons recombine, photons will be emitted which can be detected by photomultiplier tubes. If a heavy-ion beam bunched in time is available, any Qs stopped in the dewar should continue this catalysis process long after any secondary beam interaction particles have left the dewar.