ASTROPARTICLE PHYSICS

Course objectives

A - Knowledge and understanding OF 1) Knowledge of the features of cosmic rays OF 2) Knowledge of the nature and properties of the elementary particles OF 3) Knowledge of the nature and features of collisons OF 4) Knowledge of the trasport equations of primary and secondary cosmic rays in the atmosphere and the development of showers OF 5) Understand the differential flux and mass composition of the primary cosmic rays OF 6) Knowledge of the problem of the ultra high energy cosmic rays OF 7) Knowledge of the the first and second order Fermi acceleration mechanism B – Application skills OF 8) Be able to deduce the basic issues of astroparticle physics starting by using the observational techniques OF 9) Be able to apply the propagation of ultra high energy particles such as protons, photons, neeutrinos and heavy nuclei OF 10) Be able to apply the first and second order Fermi acceleration mechanism OF 11) Be able to deduce the limits of the observational techniques in use in the different esperiments C - Autonomy of judgment OF 12) Be able to evaluate the nature of the different interacting particles in a specif process OF 13) Be able to evaluate the observational methodologies for the different experiments OF 14) Be able to evaluate every aspect of the system OF 15) Be able to suggest the techniques to perform a scientific evaluation of the system D - Communication skills OF 16) Know how to describe the nature of physical processes to workers without scientific training OF 17) Know how to communicate physical techniques for a complete study of the system E - Ability to learn OF 18) Have the ability to consult scientific literature and physical methods OF 19) Have the ability to evaluate technical descriptions for specific physical processes

Channel 1
IRENE DI PALMA Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
Introduction to Cosmic rays Physics. Complementarity between the study of Cosmic Rays events/ properties and elementary particle physics at accelerators. Differential energy flux and mass composition of primary Cosmic Rays. Flux of "secondary C. R." due to the interaction of primary C. R. Transport equations of primary and secondary Cosmic Rays in the atmosphere. Development of hadronic and electromagnetic showers in the atmosphere. Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays: the measurements and their implications. Propagation of Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays in the Universe: the case for protons, photons, neutrinos, heavier nuclei. The Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuzmin cut-off. The origin of Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays, the possible acceleration mechanisms, first and second order Fermi acceleration mechanism. Notes on Galaxy morphology. Experimental techniques for the observation/study of primary Cosmic Ray fluxes (protons, photons, heavy nuclei, neutrinos) up to energies 1022 eV: experiments in the space, in the atmosphere, at ground, deep underground. Open problems in particle and astroparticle physics: dark matter, matter-antimatter asymmetry, neutrino properties (AMS, PAMELA, FERMI, DAMA, CUORE, IceCube, ANTARES, ...) Astrophysics with High Energy photons: experimental techniques and results (HESS, MAGIC, VERITAS, CTA...) Astrophysics with High Energy neutrinos (IceCube, ANTARES, KM3NeT, ...) Astrophysics with High Energy protons (E1017 eV): experimental techniques and results: AGASA, HiReS, Telescope Array, The Pierre Auger Observatory, TUNKA.
Prerequisites
It is required to have a basic knowledge of the fundamental interactions physics, of the elementary particle physics, of most common particle detectors.
Books
T. K. Gaisser, R. Engel, E. Resconi, Cosmic Rays and Particle Physics, II edizione, Cambridge Univ. Press, (2016). M. Spurio, Particles and Astrophysics, astronomy and Astrophysics Library, Spinger, 2014. Multiple Messengers and Challenges in Astroparticle Physics, Aloisio R., Coccia E., Vissani F., Capone A, Lipari P., et al, Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-65425-6_4, (2018). A. De Angelis and Mario Pimenta, Introduction to particle and astroparticle physics, Questions to the Universe, Springer, 2015
Frequency
54 h of frontal lessons that include also time dedicated to calculations and exercises. Other hours dedicated to in-depth understanding of selected items related to the program.
Exam mode
For the final evaluation students will be required to discuss, with particular attention, one of the arguments presented by the teacher during the lectures by reading a scientific publication. The student is required to study this argument with particular attention. It is not required a written document. At the end of this discussion the teacher, with questions spanning over the whole program, will evaluate the canditate preparation. To pass the exam the student must be able to present a topic or repeat a calculation discussed during the course and to apply the learned methods to examples and situations similar to those already discussed. The evaluation will take into account: - correctness of the exposed concepts; - clarity and rigor of exposition; - analytical development capacity of the theory; - aptitude in problem solving (method and results) Key competences are necessary and sufficient to get a mark of 18/30. To obtain a mark of 30/30 with laude, the student must demonstrate an excellent knowledge of all the topics of the course and be able to connect them in a coherent way.
Lesson mode
54 hours of frontal lessons that include also time dedicated to calculations and exercises. Other hours dedicated to in-depth understanding of selected items related to the program.
  • Lesson code1055362
  • Academic year2025/2026
  • CourseAstrophysics and Cosmology
  • CurriculumSingle curriculum
  • Year2nd year
  • Semester1st semester
  • SSDFIS/01
  • CFU6