Anna Soter: Catalogue data in Autumn Semester 2021 |
| Name | Prof. Dr. Anna Soter |
| Field | Low Energy Particle Physics |
| Address | Inst. f. Teilchen- und Astrophysik ETH Zürich, HPK E 32 Otto-Stern-Weg 5 8093 Zürich SWITZERLAND |
| Telephone | +41 44 633 80 08 |
| asoter@ethz.ch | |
| Department | Physics |
| Relationship | Assistant Professor (Tenure Track) |
| Number | Title | ECTS | Hours | Lecturers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 402-0715-00L | Low Energy Particle Physics | 6 credits | 2V + 1U | A. Soter, P. A. Schmidt-Wellenburg | |
| Abstract | Low energy particle physics provides complementary information to high energy physics with colliders. In this lecture, we will concentrate on flagship experiments which have significantly improved our understanding of particle physics today, concentrating mainly on precision experiments with neutrons, muons and exotic atoms. | ||||
| Learning objective | You will be able to present and discuss: - the principle of the experiments - the underlying technique and methods - the context and the impact of these experiments on particle physics | ||||
| Content | Low energy particle physics provides complementary information to high energy physics with colliders. At the Large Hadron Collider one directly searches for new particles at energies up to the TeV range. In a complementary way, low energy particle physics indirectly probes the existence of such particles and provides constraints for "new physics", making use of high precision and high intensities. Besides the sensitivity to effects related with new physics (e.g. lepton flavor violation, symmetry violations, CPT tests, search for electric dipole moments, new low mass exchange bosons etc.), low energy physics provides the best test of QED (electron g-2), the best tests of bound-state QED (atomic physics and exotic atoms), precise determinations of fundamental constants, information about the CKM matrix, precise information on the weak and strong force even in the non-perturbative regime etc. Starting from a general introduction on high intensity/high precision particle physics and the main characteristics of muons and neutrons and their production, we will then focus on the discussion of fundamental problems and ground-breaking experiments: - search for rare decays and charged lepton flavor violation - electric dipole moments and CP violation - spectroscopy of exotic atoms and symmetries of the standard model - what atomic physics can do for particle physics and vice versa - neutron decay and primordial nucleosynthesis - atomic clock - Penning traps - Ramsey spectroscopy - Spin manipulation - neutron-matter interaction - ultra-cold neutron production - various techniques: detectors, cryogenics, particle beams, laser cooling.... | ||||
| Literature | Golub, Richardson & Lamoreaux: "Ultra-Cold Neutrons" Rauch & Werner: "Neutron Interferometry" Carlile & Willis: "Experimental Neutron Scattering" Byrne: "Neutrons, Nuclei and Matter" Klapdor-Kleingrothaus: "Non Accelerator Particle Physics" | ||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | Einführung in die Kern- und Teilchenphysik / Introduction to Nuclear- and Particle-Physics | ||||
| 402-0719-BSL | Particle Physics at PSI (Paul Scherrer Institute)  | 8 credits | 15P | A. Soter, A. S. Antognini | |
| Abstract | During semester breaks 6-12 students stay for 3 weeks at PSI and participate in a hands-on course on experimental particle physics. A small real experiment is performed in common, including apparatus design, construction, running and data analysis. The course includes some lectures, but the focus lies on the practical aspects of experimenting. | ||||
| Learning objective | Students learn all the different steps it takes to perform a complete particle physics experiment in a small team. They acquire skills to do this themselves in the team, including design, construction, data taking and data analysis. | ||||
| 402-0719-MSL | Particle Physics at PSI (Paul Scherrer Institute) | 8 credits | 15P | A. Soter, A. S. Antognini | |
| Abstract | During semester breaks 6-12 students stay for 3 weeks at PSI and participate in a hands-on course on experimental particle physics. A small real experiment is performed in common, including apparatus design, construction, running and data analysis. The course includes some lectures, but the focus lies on the practical aspects of experimenting. | ||||
| Learning objective | Students learn all the different steps it takes to perform a complete particle physics experiment in a small team. They acquire skills to do this themselves in the team, including design, construction, data taking and data analysis. | ||||