Neutrinos and Dark Matter

Course objectives

GENERAL OBJECTIVES: To provide basics of Cosmology and of its links with Neutrino and Dark Matter Physics. To provide phenomenological foundations of Neutrino and Dark Matter Physics. To provide an overview of present and future experiments. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: A - Knowledge and understanding OF 1) Basic Cosmology OF 2) Theoretical and phenomenological frameworks of Neutrino and Dark Matter searches. OF 3) Main experiments in the field. OF 4) Short and long terms goals in the field. B - Application skills OF 5) To be able to join research projects of the field. OF 6) To be able to understand scientific discussions of the field. C - Autonomy of judgment OF 7) To be able to criticize current research directions. OF 8) To be able to identify strenghts and weaknesses of different searches. D - Communication skills OF 9) T be able to bridge the communication between theoretical and experimental aspects. E - Ability to learn OF 10) Ability to understand the scientific material of the field.

Channel 1
MARCO VIGNATI Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
Cosmology [10h]: Friedman equation, Cosmic Microwave Background, Large scale structures Dark Matter [15h]: Decoupling, WIMPs, Axions and other candidates. Neutrinos [15 h]: Decoupling, sources of neutrinos, masses, oscillations. Research status [20h]: Underground labs, backgrounds, review of current experiments, understanding and comparison of the results. Future experiments.
Prerequisites
a) It is fundamental to know the basics of Particle Physics b) It is important to know the basics of the detection methods in Particle Physics experiments.
Books
A bibliobraphy based on books, review and research papers will be provided during the course. The e-learning webpage is constantly updated.
Teaching mode
Lectures (40h). Seminars on the research status (20h).
Frequency
Attendance to the lectures is not mandatory but strongly recommended.
Exam mode
The determination of the final grade takes into account the following elements: 1) Evaluation of the seminars (+/-1 to be added to the oral exam). Each student will study and present the literature of selected theoretical topics and experiments and will present a summary in class. The evaluation will take into account: - Correctness of the presented concepts; - Clarity of presentation. - Critical ability with respect to the presented concepts 2) Oral exam. The oral exam consists of an interview on the topics illustrated in the course. The evaluation will take into account: - Correctness of the presented concepts; - Clarity of presentation. - Critical ability with respect to the presented concepts
Lesson mode
Lectures (40h). Seminars on the research status (20h).
  • Lesson code10599909
  • Academic year2025/2026
  • CoursePhysics
  • CurriculumFundamental Interactions: Theory and Experiment (Percorso valido anche fini del conseguimento del titolo multiplo italo-francese-svedese-ungherese) - in lingua inglese
  • Year2nd year
  • Semester1st semester
  • SSDFIS/01
  • CFU6