From Particle Physics to Astroparticle Physics: Proton Decay and the Rise of Non-accelerator Physics

2012 ◽  
pp. 215-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hinrich Meyer
Keyword(s):  
Particle Physics ◽  
Proton Decay ◽  
Accelerator Physics ◽  
Astroparticle Physics

Detectors for cosmic particles, neutrinos and exotic matter

2020 ◽  
pp. 655-710
Author(s):  
Hermann Kolanoski ◽  
Norbert Wermes
Keyword(s):  
Dark Matter ◽  
Particle Physics ◽  
Cosmic Radiation ◽  
Charged Particles ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Detection Methods ◽  
Astroparticle Physics ◽  
High Energy Cosmic Rays ◽  
Cosmic Origin

Astroparticle physics deals with the investigation of cosmic radiation using similar detection methods as in particle physics, however, mostly with quite different detector arrangements. In this chapter the detection principles for the different radiation types with cosmic origin are presented, this includes charged particles, gamma radiation, neutrinos and possibly existing Dark Matter. In the case of neutrinos also experiments at accelerators and reactors are included. Examples, which are typical for the different areas, are given for detectors and their properties. For cosmic ray detection apparatuses are deployed above the atmosphere with balloons or satellites or on the ground using the atmosphere as calorimeter in which high-energy cosmic rays develop showers or in underground areas including in water and ice.

scholarly journals Advantages of unity with SU(4)-color: Reflections through neutrino oscillations, baryogenesis and proton decay

2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (09) ◽  
pp. 1741013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jogesh C. Pati
Keyword(s):  
Particle Physics ◽  
Neutrino Oscillations ◽  
Gauge Coupling ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Proton Decay ◽  
Charge Ratio ◽  
Grand Unification ◽  
Large Set ◽  
Minimal Extension ◽  
Seesaw Mechanism

By way of paying tribute to Abdus Salam, I first recall the ideas of higher unification which the two of us introduced in 1972–73 to remove certain shortcomings in the status of particle physics prevailing then, and then present their current role in theory as well as experiments. These attempts initiated the idea of grand unification and provided the core symmetry-structure [Formula: see text]-color towards such a unification. Embodied with quark-lepton unification and left-right symmetry, the symmetry [Formula: see text] is uniquely chosen as being the minimal one that permits members of a family to belong to a single multiplet. The minimal extension of [Formula: see text] to a simple group is given by the attractive SO(10)-symmetry that was suggested a year later. The new concepts, and the many advantages introduced by this core symmetry (which are, of course, retained by SO(10) as well) are noted. These include explanations of the observed: (i) (rather weird) electroweak and color quantum numbers of the members of a family; (ii) quantization of electric charge; (iii) electron-proton charge-ratio being [Formula: see text]; (iv) the co-existence of quarks and leptons; (v) likewise that of the three basic forces — the weak, electromagnetic and strong; (vi) the non-trivial cancelation of the triangle anomalies within each family; and opening the door for (vii) the appealing concept of parity being an exact symmetry of nature at the fundamental level. In addition, as a distinguishing feature, both because of SU(4)-color and independently because of [Formula: see text] as well, the symmetry [Formula: see text] introduced, to my knowledge, for the first time in the literature: (viii) a new kind of matter — the right-handed (RH) neutrino [Formula: see text] — as a compelling member of each family, and together with it; (ix) (B-L) as a local symmetry. The RH neutrions — contrary to prejudices held in the 1970’s against neutrinos being massive and thereby against the existence of [Formula: see text]’s as well — have in fact turned out to be an asset. They are needed to (a) understand naturally the tiny mass-scales observed in neutrino oscillations by combining the seesaw mechanism together with the unification ideas based on the symmetry SU(4)-color, and also (b) to implement the attractive mechanism of baryogenesis via leptogenesis. The quantitative success of the attempts as regards understanding both (a) and (b) are discussed in Sec. 6. These provide a clear support simultaneously for the following three features: (i) the seesaw mechanism, (ii) the SU(4)-color route to higher unification based on a symmetry like SO(10) or a string-derived [Formula: see text] symmetry in 4D, as opposed to alternative symmetries like SU(5) or even [SU(3)]3, and (iii) the (B-L)-breaking scale being close to the unification scale [Formula: see text] GeV. The observed dramatic meeting of the three gauge couplings in the context of low-energy supersymmetry, at a scale [Formula: see text] GeV, providing strong evidence in favor of the ideas of both grand unification and supersymmetry, is discussed in Sec. 3. The implications of such a meeting in the context of string-unification are briefly mentioned. Weighing the possibility of a stringy origin of gauge coupling unification versus the familiar problem of doublet-triplet splitting in supersymmetric SO(10) (or SU(5)), I discuss the common advantages as well as relative merits and demerits of an effective SO(10) versus a string-derived [Formula: see text] symmetry in 4D. In Sec. 7, I discuss the hallmark prediction of grand unification, viz. proton decay, which is a generic feature of most models of grand unification. I present results of works carried out in collaboration with Babu and Wilczek and most recently with Babu and Tavartkiladze on expectations for decay modes and lifetimes for proton decay, including upper limits for such lifetimes, in the context of a well-motivated class of supersymmetric SO(10)-models. In view of such expectations, I stress the pressing need for having the next-generation large underground detectors — like DUNE and HyperKamiokande — coupled to long-baseline neutrino beams to search simultaneously with high sensitivity for (a) proton decay, (b) neutrino oscillations and (c) supernova neutrinos. It is remarked that the potential for major discoveries through these searches would be high. Some concluding remarks on the invaluable roles of neutrinos and especially of proton decay in probing physics at the highest energy scales are made in the last section. The remarkable success of a class of supersymmetric grand unification models (discussed here) in explaining a large set of distinct phenomena is summarized. Noticing such a success and yet its limitations in addressing some fundamental issues within its premises, such as an understanding of the origin of the three families, and most importantly, the realization of a well-understood unified quantum theory of gravity describing reality, some wishes are expressed on the possible emergence and the desirable role of a string-derived grand-unified bridge between string/M-theory in higher dimensions and the world of phenomena at low energies.

scholarly journals Non-linear Dynamics in Accelerators

2020 ◽  
pp. 51-104
Author(s):  
Werner Herr ◽  
Etienne Forest
Keyword(s):  
Particle Physics ◽  
Design Stage ◽  
General Interest ◽  
Accelerator Physics ◽  
Successful Operation ◽  
Main Emphasis ◽  
Non Linear ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Physics Experiments

AbstractNon-linear effects in accelerator physics are important both during the design stage and for successful operation of accelerators. Since both of these aspects are closely related, they will be treated together in this overview. Some of the most important aspects are well described by methods established in other areas of physics and mathematics. Given the scope of this handbook, the treatment will be focused on the problems in accelerators used for particle physics experiments. Although the main emphasis will be on accelerator physics issues, some of the aspects of more general interest will be discussed. In particular to demonstrate that in recent years a framework has been built to handle the complex problems in a consistent form, technically superior and conceptually simpler than the traditional techniques. The need to understand the stability of particle beams has substantially contributed to the development of new techniques and is an important source of examples which can be verified experimentally. Unfortunately the documentation of these developments is often poor or even unpublished, in many cases only available as lectures or conference proceedings.

Challenging problems of particle physics and astrophysics. The preface

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maxim Yu. Khlopov
Keyword(s):  
Particle Physics ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Astroparticle Physics ◽  
International Conference ◽  
New Ideas

The preface to the special issue of IJMPD ”Challenging Problems of Particle physics and Astrophysics” briefly reviews some new ideas in the development of modern Astrophysics, Cosmology, Particle and Astroparticle physics inspired by discussions at the Fifth International Conference on Particle Physics and Astrophysics (ICPPA2020).

Overview, history and concepts

2020 ◽  
pp. 3-22
Author(s):  
Hermann Kolanoski ◽  
Norbert Wermes
Keyword(s):  
Particle Physics ◽  
Relativistic Particle ◽  
The Other ◽  
Astroparticle Physics ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Short Section

The progress in nuclear and particle physics is based on the development of detectors that allow us to observe particles and radiation. This chapter gives an historic overview of the development and the employment of detectors. It is pointed out how this led to scientific discoveries and how, on the other hand, the developments in other fields, in particular in electronics, widened the potential of today’s detectors. Examples of typical detector concepts for experiments in particle and astroparticle physics are given and applications in other areas are pointed out. In a short section the ‘natural units’ (ℏ = c = 1), often used in particle physics, are defined and relativistic particle kinematics is introduced. The chapter finishes with an overview of the content of the book.

scholarly journals The Scikit HEP Project overview and prospects

2020 ◽  
Vol 245 ◽  
pp. 06028
Author(s):  
Eduardo Rodrigues ◽  
Benjamin Krikler ◽  
Chris Burr ◽  
Dmitri Smirnov ◽  
Hans Dembinski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Particle Physics ◽  
Astroparticle Physics ◽  
Physics Community ◽  
Analysis Tools

Scikit-HEP is a community-driven and community-oriented project with the goal of providing an ecosystem for particle physics data analysis in Python. Scikit-HEP is a toolset of approximately twenty packages and a few “affiliated” packages. It expands the typical Python data analysis tools for particle physicists. Each package focuses on a particular topic, and interacts with other packages in the toolset, where appropriate. Most of the packages are easy to install in many environments; much work has been done this year to provide binary “wheels” on PyPI and conda-forge packages. The Scikit-HEP project has been gaining interest and momentum, by building a user and developer community engaging collaboration across experiments. Some of the packages are being used by other communities, including the astroparticle physics community. An overview of the overall project and toolset will be presented, as well as a vision for development and sustainability.

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