Teaching
WS 2022: Seminar (MVRS) on Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Rays (UHECRs),
University of Heidelberg, Faculty of Physics and Astronomy,
2 hours per week, Tuesday 14:15-15:45, Philosophenweg 12, R058
(2 credit points; presentation language is negotiable)
NOTE:
- This seminar is intended to take place onsite.
- First meeting is on October 25th.
- For schedule details or if you want to attend, please contact me by email.
- For the latest University Covid rules, please see
here.
1. Course Context: The origin of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs), i.e. relativistic charged particles with energies greater than 1 EeV, impinging on Earth from outer space, still remains to be solved. While thought to be of extragalactic origin, the astrophysical sources and acceleration mechanisms producing these particles are unknown. Possible candidate sources include Active Galactic Nuclei and their relativistic jets, starburst galaxies, gamma-ray bursts as well as accretion shocks around clusters of galaxies. Experimentally, major progress has been achieved over the last couple of years by the Pierre Auger (PA) and the Telescope Array (TA) collaborations. You can find an accessible introduction into recent trends in the 2021 edition of the Quanta Magazin here.
2. Course Description: This seminar aims to give insights into UHECR research and progress, including basic considerations and new experimental results. A specific focus will be given to physical concepts and astrophyscial contexts, including a discussion of selective highlight results.
3. Seminar Rules: You can find the seminar rules here.
4. Topics include:
- UHECRs (intro and overview)
- UHECRs - Basic Considerations
- The Pierre Auger Experiment
- The Telescope Array Experiment
- Propagation of UHECRs in the universe
- On Potential Astrophysical Sources of UHECRs (Characteristics)
- Particle Acceleration Mechanisms (concepts)
- Potential and Challenges for GRBs as UHECR accelerators
- Particle Acceleration in Starburst Galaxies
- Quiescent quasars as possible UHECR accelerators
- AGN Jets as Cosmic Particle Accelerators
- Nearby Radio Galaxies as potential sources of UHECRs
- The Multi-Messenger Perspective of UHECRs
5. Basic literature:
- A.M. Hillas: The Origin of UHECRs (1984) [Link]
- A. Coleman et al.: Ultra-High-Energy Cosmic Rays: The Intersection of the Cosmic and Energy Frontiers (2022) [Link]
- F.M. Rieger: UHE Cosmic Rays and AGN Jets (2019)[Link]
Further topics, literature and details will be specified during the first meeting.
