Astroparticle physics 1

Course guarantor:

Jakub Vícha

Lecturer:

Jakub Vícha

Tutor:

Supervisor:

Department of Physics

Synopsis:

Outline of the lecture:

1. History of astroparticle physics

2. Introduction to astronomy (scales, observation windows, types of objects, contemporary problems)

3. Energy spectrum of the cosmic radiation (properties, spectral index, age)

4. Direct detection of cosmic radiation (experiments, findings)

5. Showers of cosmic radiation (expansion, Heitler-Matthews model, superposition model)

6. Composition of cosmic radiation (types of measurements, results, open problems)

7. Spreading of cosmic radiation and gamma rays through the space (interaction, magnetic fields)

8. Sources of cosmic radiation (exotic sources, acceleration mechanisms)

9. Indirect detection of cosmic radiation (experiments, overview)

10. Optical detection of showers of cosmic radiation (fluorescence and cherenkov techniques, reconstruction)

11. Surface detection of showers of cosmic radiation (types of detectors, reconstruction)

12. Detection of gamma rays (principles, experiments)

Requirements:

The course is intended for students familiar with Special Theory of Relativity and Subatomic Physics.

Syllabus of lectures:

Outline of the lecture:

1. History of astroparticle physics

2. Introduction to astronomy (scales, observation windows, types of objects, contemporary problems)

3. Energy spectrum of the cosmic radiation (properties, spectral index, age)

4. Direct detection of cosmic radiation (experiments, findings)

5. Showers of cosmic radiation (expansion, Heitler-Matthews model, superposition model)

6. Composition of cosmic radiation (types of measurements, results, open problems)

7. Spreading of cosmic radiation and gamma rays through the space (interaction, magnetic fields)

8. Sources of cosmic radiation (exotic sources, acceleration mechanisms)

9. Indirect detection of cosmic radiation (experiments, overview)

10. Optical detection of showers of cosmic radiation (fluorescence and cherenkov techniques, reconstruction)

11. Surface detection of showers of cosmic radiation (types of detectors, reconstruction)

12. Detection of gamma rays (principles, experiments)

Syllabus of tutorials:

Study Objective:

Knowledge: Basic properties of cosmic and gamma radiation and their detection.

Acquired skills: Describe the properties, composition and various principles of detection of cosmic radiation. Calculation of basic problems in cosmic and gamma-ray physics.

Study materials:

Key references:

[1] C. Grupen, “Astroparticle Physics“, Springer Science & Business Media, 2005.

[2] A. De Angelis, M. Pimenta, “Introduction to Particle and Astroparticle Physics“, Second Edition, Springer, 2018.

[3] M. S. Longair, “High Energy Astrophysics, Third Edition“, Cambridge University Press, 2011.

Recommended references:

[4] The Pierre Auger Collaboration, “The Pierre Auger Cosmic Ray Observatory“, NIM A 798 (2015) 172.

[5] CTA Consortium, Design concepts for the Cherenkov Telescope Array CTA : an advanced

facility for ground-based high-energy gamma-ray astronomy, Exp. astronomy 32 (2013) 193.

Note:

Further information:

https://www.fzu.cz/~vicha/Lectures-FJFI.html

Time-table for winter semester 2024/2025:

	06:00–08:0008:00–10:0010:00–12:0012:00–14:0014:00–16:0016:00–18:0018:00–20:0020:00–22:0022:00–24:00
Mon	roomTR:205 Vícha J. 16:00–17:50 (lecture parallel1) Trojanova 13 učebna 205
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri

Time-table for summer semester 2024/2025:

Time-table is not available yet

The course is a part of the following study plans:

• Jaderná a částicová fyzika (elective course)