Phys 801: Instrumentation and methods in Astroparticle Physics

last update May 2006


Location: Chamberlin 2135
Duration: 30 lectures on TR 11:00 AM-12:15 PM

Main aim of the course: introducing the current state of the art of Astroparticle physics and understanding experiments built to solve specific questions of this physics field

Syllabus  (Textbooks and readings are suggested here)

Lectures

17 January: Introduction to Special Relativity
19 January: Lorentz transformations and relativistic kinematics
24 January: end of special relativity, beginning of Introduction to Standard Model
26 January: Standard Model
31 January: Standard Model and Neutrinos
7 February: Solar Neutrinos
9February: Atmospheric Neutrinos and beginning of interaction of particles with matter
14 February: interaction of particles and radiation with matter
16 February: interaction radiation with matter and electromagnetic and hadronic showers and
Exercises in class (solutions to come)
21 February: Cherenkov effect, Transition Radiation and generalities on detectors
23 February: Scintillators and Phototubes, new applications, Cherenkov detectors (threshold, RICH)
 and MC methods in relation to Homework 6
24 February: Transition Radiation detectors and Gas Filled detectors
28 February: Geiger-Mueller, Spectrometers and Calorimeters
2 March: Cosmic Rays, composition and spectrum, SN as sources of CRs
7 March: Invited lecture by Ellen Zweibel on  first & second  order Fermi acceleration and propagation of CRs
9 March: Acceleration mechanisms, Hillas Plot, Sources of CRs, CR spectra at low energies, solar modulation and
geomagnetic field effects

Spring break

21 March: Ballon and satellite experiments for primary CR measurements: PAMELA, AMS and Caprice 98
23 March: Invited Lectures by Prof. Eli Waxman on CRs
24 and 28 March: Invited Lecture of Prof. Karle on Gamma Astronomy (including Hw assignment due on Tue 4)
30 March: EAS detectors: Surface detectors, Cherenkov, Fluorescence. Experiments: AGASA, Hires, Pierre Auger
4 April: EAS detectors: Pierre Auger.
A New technique: radio detection. LOFAR and LOPES
6 April: TeV gamma sources and GLAST, comparison between satellites and neutrino telescopes
18 April: Neutrino Astronomy, neutrino fluxes and their connection to gamma ones, Stellar collapse and Chandrasekar mass
20 April: Core Collapse SN, neutrino emission and detection, Microquasars and W&B limit for extra-galactic sources
25 April: Muon and Tau energy losses, neutrino cross sections, Neutrino Telescopes
27 April: Tau neutrinos and the regeneration process, cascades and tracks, detector parameters, analysis methods
2 May: Gravitational wave Astronomy: theory of GWs and analogies with em waves, signals and noise, detectors: resonant bars
4 May: Gravitational wave astronomy: interferometers (LIGO, Virgo, LISA)


Homeworks and suggested solutions

Homework 1 find also pdf version
Homework 2 find also pdf version
Homework 3 find also pdf version
Homework 4 find also pdf version
Homework 5 find also pdf version
Solution of class exercises
Homework 6 find also pdf version
Homework 7 find also pdf version
Homework 8 find also pdf version
Homework 9 find also pdf version
Homework 10 find also pdf version
Homework 11 find also pdf version
Prof. Karle's Hw: ROOT script for the solution of the first part on the photon density from a vertical muon

Final exam: see the collection of the web pages and calculations discussed by the students



tmontaruli@icecube.wisc.edu