CODE 61868 ACADEMIC YEAR 2020/2021 CREDITS 6 cfu anno 2 FISICA 9012 (LM-17) - GENOVA 6 cfu anno 1 FISICA 9012 (LM-17) - GENOVA SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINARY SECTOR FIS/01 TEACHING LOCATION GENOVA SEMESTER 1° Semester PREREQUISITES Propedeuticità in ingresso Per sostenere l'esame di questo insegnamento è necessario aver sostenuto i seguenti esami: PHYSICS 9012 (coorte 2019/2020) NUCLEAR AND PARTICLE PHYSICS AND ASTROPHYSICS 2 61847 2019 THEORETICAL PHYSICS 61842 2019 MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN PHYSICS 61843 2019 MATTER PHYSICS 2 61844 2019 PHYSICS 9012 (coorte 2020/2021) NUCLEAR AND PARTICLE PHYSICS AND ASTROPHYSICS 2 61847 2020 THEORETICAL PHYSICS 61842 2020 MATTER PHYSICS 2 61844 2020 TEACHING MATERIALS AULAWEB AIMS AND CONTENT LEARNING OUTCOMES The student will acquire knowledge of the main experimental techniques used in fundamental interaction physics and astrophysics research. AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES The students will learn about phenomena related to passage of particles through matter and their application in designing and characterizing particle detectors. The student will also study decay and scattering processes; will finally acquire the data acquisition and processing skills required to perform real measurements in the lab, to be discussed with correct scientific language and approach. SYLLABUS/CONTENT Passage of radiation through matter Fundamental constants. Nuclear processes of radioactive sources. Units of measurement and characteristic parameters. Alpha decay. Beta decay. Gamma emission. Neutron sources. Law of radioactive decay. Cross section. Mean free path. Basic principles of radiation protection. Interactions of heavy charged particles with matter. Bethe-Bloch formula. Definition of range. Cherenkov effect. Interaction of electrons with matter. Energy loss in collisions. Energy loss by radiation emission (Bremsstrahlung). Multiple scattering. Radiation length. Interaction of photons with matter. Photoelectric effect. Compton effect. Couple production. Electromagnetic showers. General features of particle detectors Sensitivity. Response function. Energy resolution. Efficiency. Dead time. Characteristic parameters. Ionization detectors. Ionization and transport phenomena in gases. Multi-function proportional chambers (MWPC). Drift chambers. Time projection cameras (TPC). Scintillation detectors. Organic scintillators. Inorganic crystals. Intrinsic detection efficiency for different radiation types. Photomultiplication detectors. Construction methods and parameters. Photocathodes. Dynodes. Response in time and resolution. Noise. Data acquisition and processing. Signals used in nuclear electronics. Trigger systems. Signal transmission. The NIM standard. Pre-amplifiers. Analog-to-digital converters. Multichannel analyzers. Coincidence techniques. Treatment of experimental data. Review of statistics and error theory. Simulation of experimental data and Monte Carlo method. Methods for fitting and minimization. Presentation of experimental results. Laboratory experiences Assembly of a scintillator telescope Scattering experiment: Compton scattering and electron mass measurement Particle detection experiment: muon mean lifetime and Landè factor. TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD ANTONINO SERGI CLAUDIA GEMME SANDRA ZAVATARELLI Exam Board CLAUDIA GEMME (President) ANTONINO SERGI SANDRA ZAVATARELLI (President Substitute) LESSONS Class schedule LAB OF FUNDAMENTAL INTERACTIONS PHYSICS AND ASTROPHYSICS EXAMS EXAM DESCRIPTION The exam consists of an oral test in which knowledge and degree of understanding of the theoretical topics developed during the course are verified, also discussing the experimental results related to the experiments carried out during the year. ASSESSMENT METHODS The exam, held by the professors, possibly assisted by experts of the subject, consists of a pre-set number of questions and the discussion of the experimental results related to the experiments carried out during the year. The questions are asked in such a way as to be able to verify the degree of preparation of the student, his knowledge of the topics addressed and his ability to express himself using scientific language