Main courses: 2x1 hour
Cherenkov Telescopes for Gamma-Ray Astrophysics
Werner Hofmann, MPI fur Kernphysik, Heidelberg
The talk aims at giving an overview of the atmospheric Cherenkov technique and the main physics results achieved so far. Topics covered include the characteristics of Cherenkov light emission from air showers, telescope technology and telescope calibration, and analysis techniques as well as the studies of TeV gamma-ray emission from galactic and extragalactic sources.
Download the presentation in PDF format, part 1 (10.7 Mo)
Download the presentation in PDF format, part 2 (8.4 Mo)
Gamma-Ray Astronomy from Space
J. Paul, CEA/DAPNIA/Service d'Astrophysique
Beyond any doubt, gamma-ray astronomy is the most arduous of the new space borne astronomical disciplines. To observe in the gamma-ray domain, astronomers must indeed overcome a threefold handicap. At first, because of its wavelength, much shorter than inter-atomic distances, gamma-ray radiation cannot be reflected: thus it does not lend itself to the mirror optics in use in all other domains of the electromagnetic spectrum. In the second place, celestial bodies active in the gamma-ray domain radiate much less photons because each of them conveys a much greater amount of energy. Last but not least, space gamma-ray detectors are exposed to intense fluxes of cosmic particles. The huge background thus induced cannot be attenuated, even at the expense of massive shields. This course intends to review the most recent developments in space gamma-ray astronomy with a particular emphasis on the forthcoming missions currently planed in the present decade.
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Fermi acceleration at non-relativistic shocks
G. Pelletier, LAG
The main theoretical points of Fermi acceleration will be presented together with new results about the transport of cosmic rays in chaotic magnetic fields. Its performance in several astrophysic accelerators will be analysed, with a discussion of the successful and still puzzling issues. In particular, the role of the diffusion regime, of the nonlinear effects, of pair creation, the issue of injection will be briefly discussed.
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Fermi acceleration in AGNs, Blazars and Gamma Ray Bursts. Relativistic regime
G. Pelletier, LAG
The specific application of the Fermi process to the highest energy sources, such as AGNs, Blazars and GRBs, will be discussed for both radiating electrons and cosmic rays. The constraints for electrodynamic and hadronic models of high energy radiations will be stressed. The interest of the relativistic regime of acceleration for producing UHE Cosmic Rays will be presented together with its intrinsic difficulties.
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High Energy Neutrino Telescopes - Physics and Techniques
C. Spiering, DESY, Zeuthen
I will review of the main physics goals of underwater/ice neutrino telescopes and relate them to their basic methodical and technical capabilities. An overview of current and planned experiments is given.
Download the presentation in PDF format, part 1 (5.0 Mo)
Download the presentation in PDF format, part 2 (4.5 Mo)
Astrophysical Sources of High Energy Neutrinos
E. Waxman, Weizmann Institute
The main goal of high energy, >1TeV, neutrino telescope construction is the extension of the horizon of neutrino astronomy from the local, 100kpc, neighborhood, to the edge of the observable universe. General limits on neutrino fluxes from known astrophysical sources will be derived, which imply that a cubic kilometer telescope is required to detect cosmological sources. Models for candidate extra-Galactic and Galactic sources of high energy neutrinos will be reviewed. Outstanding open questions of high energy astrophysics, that may be addressed with neutrino telescopes under construction, will be discussed. These include the origin of ultra-high energy, 10^{20} eV, cosmic-rays and the nature of the central engines of the most luminous sources in the Universe, gamma-ray bursts and active galactic nuclei.
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Review of Cosmic Ray Measurements
S. Swordy, University of Chicago
Download the presentation in PDF format, part 1 (2.0 Mo)
Download the presentation in PDF format, part 2 (2.1 Mo)
Cosmology and Structure Formation
J. Silk, University of Oxford
The first lecture will discuss the parameters of the standard cosmological model, including definitions, experimental methods and uncertainties. I will discuss the matter content of the universe, and how it is measured. In the second lecture I will review structure origin, from primordial fluctuations to galaxy formation and evolution.
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Dark Matter and Particle Physics
A. Bottino, Universita' di Torino
Particle physics offers a number of possible candidates for dark matter in the Universe. In this course, after a short introduction on the decoupling mechanisms of particles from the primordial plasma, properties related to their relic abundances and possible direct and indirect signals will be discussed. Special attention will be devoted to signals detectable in neutrino telescopes, and to their connection with measurements of other kinds. After considerations applicable to a generic WIMP (Weakly Interacting Massive Particle), specific results referring to relic neutralinos will be presented.
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Underground Neutrino Experiments
S. Mikheyev, Institute for Nuclear Research
I will review the history of large underground telescopes, technique and main physical results obtained with underground detectors. An overview of present status and future plans for underground neutrino experiments will be given.
Download the presentation in PDF format (8.7 Mo)
S. Basa, last update: 02/25/02