Large Area Networked Detectors For Particle Astrophysics

The universe is pervaded by particles with extreme energies, millions of times greater than we can produce on Earth. They have been a mystery for over a century. Now, current and future experiments in particle astrophysics are leading us to answers to the most fundamental questions about them. How does nature accelerate the highest energy particles in the universe? Do new interactions between them occur at such extreme energies? Are there unknown aspects of spacetime that can be uncovered by studying these particles?This book brings together three fields within 'extreme astronomy': ultra-high-energy cosmic ray physics, neutrino astronomy, and gamma-ray astronomy, and discusses how each can help answer these questions. Each field is presented with a theoretical introduction that clearly elucidates the key questions scientists face. This is followed by chapters that discuss the current set of experiments — how they work and their discoveries. Finally, new techniques and approaches are discussed to solve the mysteries uncovered by the current experiments.

The exploration of the subnuclear world is done through increasingly complex experiments covering a wide range of energies and in a large variety of environments — from particle accelerators, underground detectors to satellites and space laboratories. For these research programs to succeed, novel techniques, new materials and new instrumentation need to be used in detectors, often on a large scale. Hence, particle physics is at the forefront of technological advancement and leads to numerous applications. Among these, medical applications have a particular importance due to the health and social benefits they bring. This volume reviews the advances made in all technological aspects of current experiments in the field.

This book, designed as a tool for young researchers and graduate students, reviews the main open problems and research lines in various fields of astroparticle physics: cosmic rays, gamma rays, neutrinos, cosmology, and gravitational physics. The opening section discusses cosmic rays of both galactic and extragalactic origin, examining experimental results, theoretical models, and possible future developments. The basics of gamma-ray astronomy are then described, including the detection methods and techniques. Galactic and extragalactic aspects of the field are addressed in the light of recent discoveries with space-borne and ground-based detectors. The review of neutrinos outlines the status of the investigations of neutrino radiation and brings together relevant formulae, estimations, and background information. Three complementary issues in cosmology are examined: observable predictions of inflation in the early universe, effects of dark energy/modified gravity in the large-scale structure of the universe, and neutrinos in cosmology and large-scale structures. The closing section on gravitational physics reviews issues relating to quantum gravity, atomic precision tests, space-based experiments, the strong field regime, gravitational waves, multi-messengers, and alternative theories of gravity.

The exploration of the subnuclear world is done through increasingly complex experiments covering a wide range of energy and performed in a large variety of environments ranging from particle accelerators, underground detectors to satellites and the space laboratory. The achievement of these research programs calls for novel techniques, new materials and instrumentation to be used in detectors, often of large scale. Therefore, fundamental physics is at the forefront of technological advance and also leads to many applications. Among these, are the progresses from space experiments whose results allow the understanding of the cosmic environment, of the origin and evolution of the universe after the Big Bang. Contents:Space Experiments and Cosmic Rays ObservationsProduction and Propagation of Cosmic Rays in the Galaxy and HeliosphereDark Matter Searches, Underwater and Underground ExperimentsHigh Energy Physics ExperimentsTracker and Position Sensitive DetectorsCalorimetryAdvanced Detectors, Particles Identification, Devices and Materials in RadiationBroader Impacts Activities, Treatments and Software Application Readership: Graduate students and researchers in theoretical physics. Key Features:Cover all the aspects of detections of interaction in matter in all environment (experiments at accelerators, in space and cosmic rays, undergrounds and in medical and biological fields)Up to date resultsExample of merging advanced technology, particle physics and imaging techniques toward biological and medical application, for instanceKeywords:Astroparticle;Particle;Space Physics;Detectors;Accelerator and Computer Data/Networking Developments;Radiotherapy;Medical Physics Applications;Imaging;Calorimetry;Software;Heliosphere and Earth Magnetosphere;Radiation Damage;Tracking Devices

The exploration of the subnuclear world is carried out through increasingly complex experiments covering a wide range of energies and in a large variety of environments — from particle accelerators and underground detectors to satellites and space laboratories. For these research programs to succeed, novel techniques, new materials and new instrumentation need to be used in detectors, often on a large scale. This book reviews the advances made in all technological aspects of the experiments at various stages. The proceedings have been selected for coverage in: • Index to Scientific & Technical Proceedings® (ISTP® / ISI Proceedings) • Index to Scientific & Technical Proceedings (ISTP CDROM version / ISI Proceedings) • CC Proceedings — Engineering & Physical Sciences Contents:Astroparticle and Space PhysicsCalorimetryHigh Energy PhysicsInformation Technology, Networking and Software ApplicationsMedical ApplicationsNew Detectors and Particle IdentificationOpen Session on Experimental ResultsRadiation DamageTracker Readership: Graduate students and researchers in particle physics, astrophysics, cosmology and medical physics. Keywords:Radiation Detectors;Calorimetry;Medical Applications;Particle Identification

This book introduces the reader to how fundamental topics in particle physics can be studied with the largest neutrino telescopes currently in operation. Due to their large size, reaching cubic-kilometer volumes, and their wide energy response, these unusual detectors can provide insight on neutrino oscillations, dark matter searches or searches for exotic particles, new neutrino interactions or extra dimensions, among many other topics.Lacking a man-made neutrino 'beam', neutrino telescopes use the copious flux of neutrinos continuously produced by cosmic rays interacting in the Earth's atmosphere, as well as neutrinos from astrophysical origin. They have therefore access to neutrinos of higher energies and much longer baselines than those produced in present accelerators, being able to search for new physics at complementary scales than currently available in particle physics laboratories around the world.Written by carefully chosen experts in the field, the book introduces each topic in a pedagogical way apt not only to professionals, but also to students or the interested reader with a background in physics.

This volume contains detailed articles by theorists and experimentalists in the newly developing field of astroparticle physics. A large variety of topics are covered. These include the role of neutrinos in astroparticle physics, big bang nucleosynthesis, string theory and cosmology. Contents: The Highest Energy Cosmic Rays, Gamma-Rays and Neutrinos: Facts, Fancy and Resolution (F Halzen); Big Bang Nucleosynthesis, Implications of Recent CMB Data and Supersymmetric Dark Matter (K Olive); Research Program of the TEXENO Collaboration: Status and Highlights (H T-K Wong & J Li); New Results from AMS Cosmic Ray Measurements (M A Huang); Measurement of Attenuation Length in Rock Salt and Limestone in Radio Wave for Ultra-High Energy Neutrino Detector (M Chiba et al.); Expected Performance of a Neutrino Telescope for Seeing AGN/GC Behind a Mountain (G W S Hou & M A Huang); Galactic High-Energy Cosmic-Ray Tau Neutrino Flux (K Cheung et al.); On Non Hadronic Origin of High Energy Neutrinos (H Athar & G-L Lin); Questions in Cosmology and Particle Astrophysics (W-Y P Hwang); Noncommutative Early Universe (P-M Ho); Cosmological Constant, Quintessence and Mini-Universes (X-G He); Stability of the Anisotropic Brane Cosmology (W F Kao); Dark Energy, Primordial Magnetic Fields, and Time-Varying Fine-Structure Constant (K-W Ng). Readership: Graduate students and researchers in astrophysics and high energy physics.

The exploration of the subnuclear world is done through increasingly complex experiments covering a wide range of energy and performed in a large variety of environments ranging from particle accelerators, underground detectors to satellites and the space laboratory. Among recent advances one has to indicate, for instance, first results obtained from space and LHC experiments and progress done in preparation of the latter experiments upgrades, including plans for the LHC machine upgrade. The achievement of these research programs calls for novel techniques, new materials and instrumentation to be used in detectors, often of large scale. Therefore, fundamental physics is at the forefront of technological advance and also leads to many applications. Among these, medical applications have a particular importance due to health and social benefits they bring to the public. Sample Chapter(s). Science highlights from the Fenni Observatory (5,046 KB). Contents: Space Experiments and Cosmic Rays Observations; Production and Propagation of Cosmic Rays in the Galaxy and Heliosphere; Dark Matter Searches, Underwater and Underground Experiments; High Energy Physics Experiments; Tracker and Position Sensitive Detectors; Calorimetry; Advanced Detectors, Particles Identication, Devices and Materials in Radiation; Broader Impact Activities, Treatments and Software Application. Readership: Post-graduate students, researchers and engineers.