Entry requirements

120 credits with 40 credits physics, or equivalent, and 30 credits in mathematics.

Learning outcomes

The aim of the course is to give an overview of the new field of neutrino astrophysics.

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• identify the physics problems that lead to the establishment of neutrino astrophysics as an independent field, as well as to know which of these problems have been already solved, and how, and which are still open
• describe and understand the processes by which neutrinos are produced and detected
• know the properties of neutrinos as elementary particles and the forces that act on them
• explain why neutrino oscillations occur and how are they studied experimentally
• describe how neutrinos are produced in cosmic objects and why it is important to detect neutrinos from these objects
• mention current and planned experiments to study neutrino properties and to detect cosmic neutrinos, as well as to explain how these experiments work

Content

Neutrino types: electon, muon and tau neutrinos. Standard Model, Dirac and Majorana particles,neutrino mass, beta decay, double beta decay, solar neutrinos, atospheric neutrinos, neutrino oscillations. Neutrinos from: the Big Bang, cosmic radiation, Supernovae, Active Galactic Nuclei, gamma Ray Bursts, dark matter. Neutrino detection and detectors, neutrino telescopes.

Instruction

Lectures and self study through home exercises.

Assessment

The examination will consist of a series of problem sets to be solved by the student at home and a written final report on a subject of the choice of the student among a given list. The final grade of the course will be determined from the grades of the sets and the final report.

Problem sets: The problem sets will be given to the students during the course and will have to be given in at specified dates. The sets will consist of a series of problems to solve at home. Each problem will be graded in a scale from 0 to 3.

Final report: The final report should have the structure of a scientific monograph and will have to be presented orally to the class. A list of possible subjects will be published at the begining of the course.

The written report as well as the oral presentation will be graded in a scale from 0 and 5.

In order to pass the course it is needed that the student reaches 60% of the total number of possible points in the problem sets AND 60% of the total number of points from the written report and oral presentation.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the disability coordinator of the university.