Detectors and accelerators

Provide students with the basic knowledge on particle accelerators and specially on particle detection systems.

Students will understand with the basic mechanisms of particle acceleration.
Students will obtain familiarity with different methods for the detection of ionizing radiation.
Students will be able to design and assess the fundamental characteristics of a detector.

I-Interaction radiation-matter.
- Revision of basic concepts: ionization loss, 'bremsstrahlung', hadronic interaction. Photon and neutron interactions with matter. Low energy nuclei.
- Transport phenomena in radiation sensors, with electric field and without.
- Dynamics in magnetic fields.

II-Accelerators in nuclear and particle physics:
- Electron, muon and proton accelerators.
- Magnetic spectrometers.

III-Detectors in nuclear and particle physics:
- History of radiation detectors and context of the course.
- Detectors in Particle Physics.
- Detection principles.
- Gaseous Detectors.
- Solid State Detectors.
- Calorimeters.

- The Physics of Particle Accelerators Klaus Wille, Oxford University Press 2001
- Particle Accelerator Physics Helmut Wiedemann, 3 ed Springer 2007
- Radiation Detection and Measurement Glenn F. Knoll, 4 ed John Wiley & Sons
- Measurement and Detection of Radiation Nicholas Tsoulfanidis, 2 ed Taylor & Francis

The student will acquire a basic competence on:
a) Understanding of particle interactions with a medium in the context of its detection.
b) Detector design.
c) Experiment conceptualization.

Interactive classes and lab (30h): presentation of the fundamentals of the detection of ionizing radiation and implementation in the lab, depending on the student interest and availability.

90% of the evaluation comes from the continuous evaluation and the interest shown by the student along the course.
10% of the evaluation comes from the resolution of a problem or laboratory exercise.

Class: 30h
Lab: up to 10h
Tutorship: 1h
Personal effort at home: 30h

It is recommended to study the basic bibliography and scientific-technical publications about the course. At the same time, the realization of exercises and work in the lab will endow the student with a proper understanding of the subject.