Ultra-Relativistic Magnetic Monopole Search with the ANITA-II Balloon-borne Radio Interferometer

We have conducted a search for extended energy deposition trails left by ultrarelativistic magnetic monopoles interacting in Antarctic ice. The nonobservation of any satisfactory candidates in the 31 days of accumulated ANITA-II (Antarctic Impulsive Transient Antenna) flight data results in an upper limit on the diffuse flux of relativistic monopoles. We obtain a 90% C.L. limit of order 10{sup -19} (cm{sup 2} s sr){sup -1} for values of Lorentz factor, {gamma}, 10{sup 10{<=}{gamma}} at the anticipated energy E{sub tot}=10{sup 16} GeV. This bound is stronger than all previously published experimental limits for this kinematic range.