Enrollment year
2020/2021
Academic discipline
FIS/04 (NUCLEAR AND SUBNUCLEAR PHYSICS)
Department
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
Curriculum
Fisica nucleare e subnucleare
Period
1st semester (05/10/2020 - 20/01/2021)
Lesson hours
64 lesson hours
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of electro-magnetism, quantum physics and programming. Attendance to the course of Laboratory of Nuclear and Sub-Nuclear Physics I is advised.
Learning outcomes
The course aims to provide in-depth knowledge of the vacuum physics and of some types of detectors, both from the theoretical and the practical point of views, through laboratory experiments.
Course contents
The module on the Physics of the vacuum (3 CFU) foresees some lectures on the fundation of kinetic theory
of gases in viscous and molecular flux regimes. The main characteristics of the ideal and real vacuum systems are described. The operating principles of vacuum pumps and pressure sensors are briefly recalled.
The laboratory part is focused on the following experiences:
- measurement of the pumping speed in viscous regime;
- measurement of the pumping speed in molecular regime;
- evaluation and measurement of conductances (Ohm's law of the vacuum);
- outgassing (and baking) measurements;
- study of the residual gas composition with a Residual Gas Analyzer;
- analysis and interpretation of the data from RGA.
Labview and ROOT use are foreseen for data acquisition and for data analysis, respectively.
The second module (3 CFU) is dedicated to lectures on scintillation detectors: general characteristics, re-emission law, organic and inorganic scintillators. Photo-multiplier tube (PMT): general characteristics, photocathode, window, focusing, multiplication, gain, dividers, pulse shape, time response, energy resolution, dark current. Other photo-detection devices: photodiodes, APD, Silicon PM. Liquified noble-gas TPC detectors for rare event physics.
The laboratory part is focused on the following experiences:
- characterization of two XP2020 PMTs: dark current, gain measurement and noise inter-times.
- study of the distribution of cosmic rays as a function of zenith angle
- measurement of the life-time of the muon at rest.
Teaching methods
The course is subdivided in 16 hours of taught lectures and 48 hours of laboratory. When in lab, students will be always supported by the teacher, to face together all problems that could arise.
Reccomended or required readings
B. Ferrario, “Introduzione alla tecnologia del vuoto”, Patròn, 1999.
W.R. Leo "Techniques for nuclear and particle physics experiments", Springer-Verlag, 1994.
G.F. Knoll "Radiation Detection and measurement", John Wiley & Sons, 2000.
Slides from the lectures.
Assessment methods
Oral examination on the topics covered in the lectures. Discussion of the thesis concerning the laboratory measurements. Realization of one of the laboratory experiments.
Further information
Oral examination on the topics covered in the lectures. Discussion of the thesis concerning the laboratory measurements. Realization of one of the laboratory experiments.
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