Department of Physics

10ΕΚ401 Astroparticle Physics and Cosmic Rays

Course webpage:   https://eclass.uoa.gr/courses/PHYS219

Course outline

Course content

• Introduction: What is astroparticle physics. The role of elementary particle physics in understanding the universe. The discovery of cosmic particles. 
• Cosmology. The early universe.
• Expansion of the universe. Hubble law. Thermodynamics of the early universe. Big-bang. Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB). Neutron to proton ratio. Primitive nucleosynthesis. Neutrino decoupling.
• CMB measurements and consequences to cosmology. Recent experimental results on cosmic ray physics (WMAP dark matter). Dark energy.
• Cosmic rays (CR). Primary cosmic rays. Properties of primary CR: Energy spectra, density, isotropy. Neutrinos, γ rays, and neutrons from cosmic sources. Secondary cosmic rays. Cosmic ray cascades. Origin and mechanisms of cosmic rays acceleration. 
• Cosmic rays detection methods and devices:  Hadronic shower, high-energy γ-ray, neutrino, and neutron detection experiments.
• Recent results from hadronic shower, neutrino, γ-ray, and dark matter experiments.