Experimental Physics of Fundamental Interactions
Prerequisiti
The course is aimed at students of the 4th and 5th year of the master's degree (laurea magistrale). A basic knowledge of the C or C++ programming language is very welcome for Module B.
Programma
The course consists of two modules. The first (Module A) focuses on particle physics and on physics underlying the functioning of particle detectors. The second (Module B) covers general aspects of data analysis in experimental high energy physics with simplified but realistic examples of physics measurements.
Module A (20 hours)
Cross section and mean free path. Surface Density Units. Energy loss of heavy charged particles by atomic collisions and the Bethe-Bloch formula. Minimum ionizing particles. Energy loss distribution (Landau distribution). Range of charged particles in matter. Cherenkov radiation and energy loss of electrons and positrons. Energy loss by radiation: bremsstrahlung. Critical energy and radiation Length. Range of electrons. Multiple scattering. The interaction of photons in matter: photoelectric effect, Compton scattering, pair production. Strong interactions of hadrons. Drift and diffusion in gases and Lorentz angle. Basic working principles of track detectors: multiwire proportional chambers, drift chambers and semiconductor track detectors. Calorimetry. Particle Identification: time-of-flight counters and identification by ionisation processes, and by using Cherenkov radiation. Momentum measurement and high precision tracking.
Module B (20 hours)
The second module focuses on understanding the impact of gravitational wave observations on various areas of physics, as well as examining current and future experimental efforts in the field.
Outline of the course: Motivations for Gravitational Wave (GW) research. Basic theory of GW. Principles of interferometry. Dimensioning an interferometric detector of GW. Limitations to sensitivity and their physical nature. Technologies needed to achieve a useful sensitivity. Existing detectors. Network of GW detectors and multi-messenger astronomy. Scientific results so far. Implications for astrophysics, nuclear physics, cosmology, fundamental physics. The science case for 3rd generation detectors. The Einstein Telescope project: science case, experimental challenges.
Obiettivi formativi
Learn the basic features of the interaction of particles with matter, the working principles of particle detectors, and the statistical methods with the aim of performing for the first time a simplified but realistic physics measurement (data analysis) in experimental particle physics. Understand the impact of gravitational wave observations on various areas of physics. Understand the path from an interesting science case to an operational large experiment.
Riferimenti bibliografici
Claus Grupen Boris Shwart, Particle Detectors (Cambridge).
William R. Leo, Techniques for Nuclear and Particle Physics Experiments (Springer).
Frederick James, Statistical Methods in Experimental Physics (World Scientific).
Glen Cowan, Statistical Data Analysis (Oxford).