Learning Outcomes and Assessment

This course will give a basic introduction to experimental and theoretical aspects of particle astrophysics. The aim of the course is to emphasise the connection between the very large (cosmology) and the very small (particle physics) and to demonstrate that the early Universe provides the `ultimate' particle accelerator, giving access to energies that will never be created by machines on Earth.

Synopsis

Overview of astroparticle physics: Links between particle physics and cosmology, the big open questions.

The thermal history of the Universe: Timeline and concept of freezeout. Synthesis of light elements. The mystery of baryon asymmetry, Sakharov criteria.

CP violation and baryogenesis:  How CP violation can create baryons. Experimental evidence for CP violation.  CP violation in SUSY models.

The matter content of the Universe: Evidence for dark matter, possible explanations, current searches. Dark energy.

Inflation: Horizon and flatness problem, inflation, reheating. Problems of Higgs field in the early universe. Use of CMB fluctuations as a cosmological probe.

Relics from the Early Universe: Dark matter abundance, monopoles, cosmic strings and textures. Comparison of WMAP results with SUSY models and HEP constraints.

Cosmic rays: spectrum, GKZ cut-off, astrophysical sources and acceleration mechanisms.

Neutrinos: neutrino fluxes, detection, neutrino oscillations and masses. Double-beta decay experiments, astrophysical constraints on neutrino masses. Relic neutrinos.

Modified gravity: Gravitational waves. MOND. Extra dimensions, brane-worlds. Tests of short-range gravity.

Black holes:  Black holes, hawking radiation, quantum black holes.

BOOKS

Particle Astrophysics, Perkins D (Oxford University Press). This is available in paperback and is pitched at about the right level for the course, though it does not cover inflationary cosmology in much detail.

Cosmology and Particle Astrophysics, Bergström L and Goobar A (Wiley 1999).  Dated and has more advanced material than is required for the course.

The Physical Foundations of Cosmology, Mukhnaov V (CUP 2005).  Graduate level text, but with useful pedagogical discussions of nucleosynthesis and baryogenisis.

The Early Universe, Kolb E and Turner M (Westview Press 1994).  The classic graduate text, but now very dated.