High Energy Astrophysical Techniques

Rosa Poggiani

Springer, Dec 1, 2016 - Science - 163 pages

This textbook presents ultraviolet and X-ray astronomy, gamma-ray astronomy, cosmic ray astronomy, neutrino astronomy, and gravitational wave astronomy as distinct research areas, focusing on the astrophysics targets and the requirements with respect to instrumentation and observation methods.

The purpose of the book is to bridge the gap between the reference books and the specialized literature. For each type of astronomy, the discussion proceeds from the orders of magnitude for observable quantities. The physical principles of photon and particle detectors are then addressed, and the specific telescopes and combinations of detectors, presented.

Finally the instruments and their limits are discussed with a view to assisting readers in the planning and execution of observations.

Astronomical observations with high-energy photons and particles represent the newest additions to multimessenger astronomy and this book will be of value to all with an interest in the field.

Contents

• High Energy Photons and Particles: 3
• 2 RadiationMatter Interactions: 13
• 3 Interactions of Photons and Particles Along the Path: 27
• Part II The World of Detectors: 38
• General Characteristics: 39
• 5 Detectors Based on Ionization in Gases and Liquids: 43
• 6 Scintillation Detector Systems: 51
• 7 Detectors Based on Ionization in Solid State Materials: 59
• 8 Cherenkov and Transition Radiation Detectors: 65
• 9 Calorimeters: 69
• 10 Measurement of Physical Properties of Photons and Particles: 75
• Part III High Energy Astronomy: 79
• 11 Ultraviolet and XRay Astronomy: 80
• 12 Gamma Ray Astronomy: 91
• 13 Cosmic Ray Astronomy: 105
• 14 Neutrino Astronomy: 115
• 15 Gravitational Wave Astronomy: 122
• 16 The Dark Side of the Universe: 141
• 17 Observing in High Energy Astrophysics: 147
• 18 Conclusions: 158
• Index: 161

About the author

Rosa Poggiani graduated in Physics from the University of Pisa, Italy, in 1988. Her work has focused especially on the gravitational acceleration of antimatter probes, the detection of gravitational waves with interferometers, and the optical properties of astrophysical compact objects. She has made significant contributions to the physics of low-energy antimatter, suspension systems, high-vacuum compatibility and the cryogenic design of interferometric gravitational wave detectors, the optical spectroscopy of novae and the microvariability of blazars. Dr. Poggiani has been an investigator in a number of research projects and has been involved in various international collaborations. She was Coordinator of Control and DAQ for the P118T experiment on antiproton deceleration and trapping at CERN. She has been a member of the Virgo Collaboration for the interferometric detection of gravitational waves since 1993, and was the Coordinator of the last stage of the suspensions and of the vacuum compatibility of the suspension components. The LIGO and Virgo members were awarded the Special Breakthrough Prize In Fundamental Physics and the 2016 Gruber Cosmology Prize for the detection of gravitational waves.

Bibliographic information

• Title: High Energy Astrophysical Techniques; UNITEXT for Physics
• Author: Rosa Poggiani
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Springer, 2016
• ISBN: 3319447297, 9783319447292
• Length: 163 pages
• Subjects: Science / Physics / Astrophysics; Science / Space Science / Astronomy