Physics

GENERAL OBJECTIVES: The course will cover the physics of particle detectors and particle accelerators. It will introduce the experimental techniques used in nuclear, particle physics and photon science, and describe the layout and functionality of modern experiments. History, operating principles of modern particle accelerators and applications in nuclear, sub-nuclear and medical physics will be treated as well. Through classroom lectures, dedicated seminars held by experts and hands-on exercise sessions, the Detectors and Accelerators in Particle Physics course proposes: - to deepen the knowledge of the interactions of elementary particles with matter; - to analyze the functioning of the various detectors used for the detection of elementary particles in nuclear and subnuclear physics; - to examine some current experiments of greater interest; - to provide an introduction to the physics of particle accelerators by also presenting future projects; - to teach how to design and simulate simple experimental using the Geant4 software library. At the end of the course, students will be familiar with modern detection and particle acceleration methods in particle and applied physics. They will have the basis to understand the motivations and the functioning of the various parts of an experiment in high energy physics or instrumentation for the control of the beams in medical physics laboratories. This will include the ability to size and select detectors suitable for the purposes of the experiments to be examined or to be designed. They will know how to describe measurements of ionization, position, energy, and momentum of particles, as well as particle identification and timing measurements. They will develop competence in quickly and critically acquiring information from publications other then textbooks. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: A - Knowledge and understanding OF 1) To know the fundamentals of particle detectors OF 2) To know the fundamentals of particle accelerators OF 3) To understand the language of the physics of particle detectors and accelerators B - Application skills OF 4) Ability to design, dimension and choose suitable detectors for a specific particle physics experiment OF 5) Ability to implement a simple simulation setup with Geant4 for a particle detector C - Autonomy of judgment OF 6) To be able to analyze and evaluate the performance of a particle physics detectors OF 7) To be able to analyze and evaluate the performance of a particle accelerator D - Communication skills OF 8) Being able to clearly communicate the operation and properties of a particle detector and of a particle accelerator, and their applicability in realistic contexts OF 9) Being able to motivate the architectural choices behind a specific particle detector or accelerator design E - Ability to learn OF 8) Being able to learn alternative and more complex techniques OF 9) Being able to implement existing techniques in an efficient, robust and reliable manner