Space and Cosmic Physics [3 CFU]

Program: Cosmic rays, mostly atomic nuclei, have their origin beyond the solar system and while crossing the universe in all directions bombard Earth continuously. The study of the cosmic radiation have been made indirectly with detector apparatus located on Earth or directly with detectors placed on stratospheric balloons and satellites. This course will focus on space-borne and balloon-borne detection of space charged particles. It is meant to introduce the fundamental concepts of cosmic ray detection and performance, near-Earth environment and the principles of radiation shielding needed to long-term travles in space. Cosmic rays, mostly atomic nuclei, have their origin beyond the solar system and while crossing the universe in all directions bombard Earth continuously. Despite more than a century of research, much of its mysteries remain. For instance, its charged nature makes them while traveling sensitive to magnetic fields existing in space preventing unveiling their sources upon detection near Earth with particle spectrometers..

Lecturers: Fernando Barao; Nicola Tomassetti

Textbooks: Course material, slides and notes will be made available

Timetable: tentative starting date 15 March 2023

Introduction to Space Physics – Ph.D. in Physics [1.5 CFU]

Program: Heliophysics: the Sun variability and the solar cycle; the solar wind and the heliosphere; the interplanetary magnetic field, the interstellar space. Space plasmas: basic properties, Debye length and plasma parameter, plasma frequency, continuity equation. Heliospheric and magnetospheric plasmas. Single particle motion, cyclotron motion, drift equations, orbit theory. Magnetic dipole and bottle. Adiabatic invariants. Particles in the Earth magnetosphere. Transport of solar particles and cosmic rays in the heliosphere: turbulence and spatial diffusion, convection and cooling, drift, acceleration.

Lecturer: Nicola Tomassetti

Textbooks: M. B. Kallenrode, “Space Physics – An Introduction to Plasmas and Particles in the Heliosphere and Magnetospheres”, 2004 Springer. Course material, slides and notes will be made available here.

Timetable: Monday 9:00 – 11:00; Tuesday 9:00 – 11:00. Since 29 November 2021 till 7 December 2021

Dark Matter [1.5 CFU]

Program: The existence of a vast amount of dark matter in the Universe is supported by many astrophysical and cosmological observations. The latest measurements indicate that ap- proximately a 26% of the Universe energy density is in form of a new type of non-baryonic cold DM. Given that the Standard Model of particle physics does not contain any viable candidate to account for it, dark matter can be regarded as one of the clearest hints of new physics. Astrophysical and Cosmological observations have provided substantial evidence that point towards the existence of vast amounts of a new type of matter, that does not emit or absorb light. All astrophysical evidence for dark matter is based on gravitational effects such as dynamics, gravitational lensing, measurements of the gravitational potential. No known particle can play the role of the dark matter. In this course I will address the main pieces of evidence for dark matter at astrophysical and cosmological scales. I will also discuss the challenges of the direct and indirect detection of dark matter particles.

Lecturer: Nicola Tomassetti

Textbooks: Course material, slides and notes will be made available

Timetable: Four lectures between December 2018 to January 2019