Astro Particle Physics 1

This module builds the connection between cosmology and particle physics. First, basic cosmological observactions, and the standard model of particle phsyics, are introduced. The most important observable properties of our universe are discussed in light if how they depend on the properties of elementary particles, and how the study of particles of astophysical origin can provide information about the universe. Topics discussed are: The cosmic microwave background, primordial nucleosythesis, large scale structures, sources of and detectors for cosmic radiation. The dark matter problem is discussed in detail, including candidates and experiments looking for dark matter.

The lecture is structured as follows:

I.     Introduction to cosmology

II.    Introduction to the standard model of particle physics

III.   Cosmological observations

IV.    Dark Matter

After successful completion of the module the students are able to:

• describe the standard model of particle physics and its limitations.
• explain a number of basic observations that informed our current understanding of cosmology.
• explain the influence of elementary particles and their interactions on the evolution and the geometry of the universe.
• connect the creation of the light elements and the origin of the cosmic microwave background to the evolution of the universe.

PH0014: Nuclear, Particle and Astrophysics 1 and PH0015: Nuclear, Particle and Astrophysics 2.

This module consists of a lecture and an exercise course.

The material will be covered in a lecture. Short interactive problems and questions to the students will encourage the students to actively think about the material being covered.

There will be tutorials with conceptional questions and quantitative calcuations. Students should work out all the tutorial problems. It is strongly suggested that the students work on the lecture material before and after each lecture.

Slide presentation, problem sheets.

• L. Bergstrom, A. Goobar: Cosmology and Particle Astrophysics, Springer-Verlag Berlin/Heidelberg, (2004)
• H.V. Klapdor-Kleingrothaus, K. Zuber: Teilchenastrophysik, Teubnerverlag, Stuttgart, (1997)
• B.R. Martin, G. Shaw: Particle Physics, John Wiley & Sons, (2017)
• P. Schneider: Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology, Springer-Verlag Berlin/Heidelberg, (2010)
• C. Grupen: Astroparticle physics, Springer-Verlag Berlin/Heidelberg, (2005)

There will be an oral exam of 25 minutes duration. Therein the achievement of the competencies given in section learning outcome is tested exemplarily at least to the given cognition level using comprehension questions and sample calculations.

For example an assignment in the exam might be:

• What is the origin of the cosmic microwave radiation, and what have we learned from it?
• Explain how the ratio of hydrogen to helium in the universe is connected to the number of lepton generations.
• What is an 'open' and a 'closed' universe, and what conditions must be true in each case for the proportion of each type of energy in the universe to the total energy density? How can one measure the geometry of the Universe?

In the exam no learning aids are permitted.

Participation in the exercise classes is strongly recommended since the exercises prepare for the problems of the exam and rehearse the specific competencies.