Lecture

Astroparticle Physics: Neutrinos and Dark Matter

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In course

PHYS-439: Introduction to astroparticle physics

We provide a comprehensive overview of astroparticle physics, bridging the microworld of cosmic messengers with the large-scale structure and evolution of the Universe. We also explore the detection techniques and technologies that make this investigation ...

Description

This lecture covers the dynamics of the Universe, from the Planck scale to the origin of matter, focusing on the thermal history and decoupling of neutrinos. It explores the relic neutrino background, neutrino mass density, and the potential of neutrinos as dark matter candidates. The discussion extends to Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs), their freeze-out density, and interaction cross-section. The lecture also delves into observational tools like Gaia for stellar kinematics and the rotation pattern of the Galaxy. It concludes with numerical exercises on neutrino decoupling and WIMP abundance in the Milky Way.

Instructors (2)

Andrii Neronov

Chiara Perrina

Teaching & PhD PhD Students Kimberly Sarah Keyser, Irwin Khai Cheng Tay Past EPFL PhD Students as codirector Jennifer Maria FriedenMaster's theses Loîs NiggliParzival NussbaumFlorian Simmenauer (Project carried out at the University of Geneva in the AMS experiment)Kimberly KeyserLéonard LebrunPhysics Research Training Semester Kimberly Keyser

Official source

Ontological neighbourhood

Astronomy

Astrophysics: Physical cosmology, Stellar astronomy

Physics

Particle physics: Standard Model

Related concepts (32)

Observational cosmology

Observational cosmology is the study of the structure, the evolution and the origin of the universe through observation, using instruments such as telescopes and cosmic ray detectors. The science of physical cosmology as it is practiced today had its subject material defined in the years following the Shapley-Curtis debate when it was determined that the universe had a larger scale than the Milky Way galaxy. This was precipitated by observations that established the size and the dynamics of the cosmos that could be explained by Albert Einstein's General Theory of Relativity.

Cosmology

Cosmology () is a branch of physics and metaphysics dealing with the nature of the universe. The term cosmology was first used in English in 1656 in Thomas Blount's Glossographia, and in 1731 taken up in Latin by German philosopher Christian Wolff, in Cosmologia Generalis. Religious or mythological cosmology is a body of beliefs based on mythological, religious, and esoteric literature and traditions of creation myths and eschatology. In the science of astronomy, cosmology is concerned with the study of the chronology of the universe.

Stellar kinematics

In astronomy, stellar kinematics is the observational study or measurement of the kinematics or motions of stars through space. Stellar kinematics encompasses the measurement of stellar velocities in the Milky Way and its satellites as well as the internal kinematics of more distant galaxies. Measurement of the kinematics of stars in different subcomponents of the Milky Way including the thin disk, the thick disk, the bulge, and the stellar halo provides important information about the formation and evolutionary history of our Galaxy.

Physical cosmology

Physical cosmology is a branch of cosmology concerned with the study of cosmological models. A cosmological model, or simply cosmology, provides a description of the largest-scale structures and dynamics of the universe and allows study of fundamental questions about its origin, structure, evolution, and ultimate fate. Cosmology as a science originated with the Copernican principle, which implies that celestial bodies obey identical physical laws to those on Earth, and Newtonian mechanics, which first allowed those physical laws to be understood.

Non-standard cosmology

A non-standard cosmology is any physical cosmological model of the universe that was, or still is, proposed as an alternative to the then-current standard model of cosmology. The term non-standard is applied to any theory that does not conform to the scientific consensus. Because the term depends on the prevailing consensus, the meaning of the term changes over time. For example, hot dark matter would not have been considered non-standard in 1990, but would be in 2010.

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Cosmology and the Milky Way: An Overview

Covers the standard model in cosmology and the structure of the Milky Way, including dark matter and galaxy formation.

Astroparticle Physics: Neutrinos and Dark Matter

Covers the role of neutrinos in astroparticle physics and their implications for dark matter in the universe.

Astroparticle Physics: Dark Matter and Galaxy Dynamics

Covers astroparticle physics, dark matter, galaxy dynamics, and direct detection experiments for dark matter.

Dark Matter Detection: WIMPs and Experimental Techniques

Covers the detection of dark matter, focusing on WIMPs and experimental techniques used in laboratories.

The weak interactions of leptons