Level of education
Bachelor's degree
ECTS
3 credits
Training structure
Faculty of Science
Hours per week
24h
Description
This course is intended as an introduction to astroparticle physics (cosmic accelerators, gamma rays, multi-messengers, experimental techniques, etc.).
The course builds on the knowledge acquired in L3 to offer students a brief introduction to astroparticle physics. After a description of the general context, two examples of detectors in gamma-ray astronomy will be detailed, followed by an introduction to the physics of multi-messenger astrophysics (in particular via the detection of gravitational waves). The course will then address the physics of cosmic rays (CR), the issue of CR acceleration and propagation, and the hypothesis of supernova remnants as galactic CR accelerators (description of the first-order Fermi acceleration mechanism).
The course will conclude with a description of the cosmological challenges of future large-scale ground-based and space-based surveys (LSST and Euclid in particular).
Objectives
This course is an introduction to the basic concepts required for the "High Energy Astrophysics" (HAP001P) course in semester 3 of the CCP master's program.
Mandatory prerequisites
General training in physics at the L3 level,
- Nuclear and particle physics,
- Mathematics for physics.
Recommended prerequisites:
Basic concepts in:
- Special relativity and relativistic kinematics,
- Nuclear physics,
- Basic knowledge of galactic and extragalactic astrophysics.
Knowledge assessment
Final written exam without documents, lasting 3 hours.
Syllabus
Course materials/tutorials and lectures/exercise corrections in English. I/ Astroparticle physics overview
1/ Two examples from gamma-ray astronomy
a) Space-based observatory (Fermi-LAT)
Ex 1: GeV Galactic Center as seen by Fermi-LAT
Example 2: Gamma-Ray Bursts and Quantum Gravity
b) Ground-based observatory (HESS)
Example 1: TeV Galactic Center as seen by HESS
Ex 2: Supernova Remnants as a Source of Cosmic Rays
2/ Astroparticle at LUPM: Modeling, HESS2, CTA, SVOM, LSST
3/ New area: Gravitational waves and Time Domain Astronomy
II/ Cosmic Rays:
1/ Cosmic-ray spectra
2/ Number and Energy Density of Cosmic Rays
3/ Detection of Very High Energy Cosmic Rays, the Pierre Auger Observatory
4/ The Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuzmin (GZK) effect
5/ Hillas Diagram
6 Fermi acceleration mechanism
III/ Overview of expected cosmology results from future wide-area spectroscopic survey experiments
IV/ Dark Matter (if time remains)