Academic Year/course:
2023/24
628 - Master's Degree in Physics of the Universe: Cosmology, Astrophysics, Particles and Astroparticles
68361 - Astroparticle physics I: gamma rays, neutrinos and cosmic rays
Syllabus Information
Academic year:
2023/24
Subject:
68361 - Astroparticle physics I: gamma rays, neutrinos and cosmic rays
Faculty / School:
100 - Facultad de Ciencias
Degree:
628 - Master's Degree in Physics of the Universe: Cosmology, Astrophysics, Particles and Astroparticles
ECTS:
6.0
Year:
01
Semester:
First semester
Subject type:
Optional
Module:
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1. General information
This subject, together with Astroparticle Physics II: The Dark Universe, forms the Astroparticle Physics subject. It offers students an in-depth review of theories and experiments in the field of gamma ray, cosmic ray, neutrino and multimessenger astronomy. These topics will be of interest not only for students who want to follow research lines in astroparticle physics but also for those interested in particle physics or astrophysics.
Its objectives are aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations 2030 Agenda to the extent that the subject can contribute to the goals: 4-Quality Education, 5-Gender Equality, and 9-Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.
2. Learning results
Upon completion of this subject, the student will be able to:
- Know the techniques for detecting gamma rays, cosmic rays and high energy neutrinos.
- Know the types of sources and the mechanisms of astroparticle production.
- Know how to analyse the processes that take place in the propagation of astroparticles, both conventional and possible new processes in extensions of the Standard Model.
- Have an overview of the theoretical and experimental results on neutrino oscillations.
- Know the role of the neutrino in astrophysics and cosmology.
- Describe, in a multimessenger astronomy, the different observations of the same cosmic event.
3. Syllabus
- History of cosmic rays. Galactic and extragalactic origin of cosmic rays and range of energies.
- Cosmic ray sources, acceleration and propagation mechanisms in space.
- Galactic and extragalactic gamma-ray sources.
- Gamma ray and cosmic ray detection techniques.
- Cosmic rays on the earth's surface and in underground laboratories.
- Neutrino physics. Neutrino oscillations
- Neutrino sources and experiments
- Neutrinos in astrophysics and cosmology.
- Determination of neutrino mass
- Multimessenger astronomy.
- Tests of fundamental symmetries in astroparticle physics.
4. Academic activities
- Participation in and attendance to lectures
- Case analysis, sharing and discussion of the contents.
- Problem solving.
- Practical computing classes
- Writing and submission of works.
- Production and oral presentation of works.
- Tutoring.
- Individual study.
- Assessment tests.
- Discussions.
5. Assessment system
The student must demonstrate achievement of the intended learning results through the following assessment activities:
- Assessment of reports and written work: 20%.
- Assessment of case analysis, problem solving, questions and other activities 30%.
- Assessment of oral presentations of work: 10%.
- Assessment of the evaluation tests: 30%.
- Assessment of computational work: 10%.
The final grade will be obtained according to the percentage assigned to each assessment activity. In order to pass the subject, this final grade must be higher or equal to 5.0 and no lower than 4.0 in each of the activities.
However, there will also be an assessment test for those students who have not taken the assessment activities or have not passed them. It will consist of an assessment of the same learning results as in the continuous assessment tests.