The research activities involve many of the research sectors in fundamental physics with attention also to the applications that can be derived from them. In particular, the following research lines are present: elementary particle physics and study of relativistic collisions between heavy ions with activities at the LHC of CERN and new activities for the construction of a new electron accelerator, the Electron Ion Collider (BNL-USA); reactions between heavy ions at low and intermediate energies aimed at studying the reaction mechanisms, the nuclear structure and nuclear processes of astrophysical interest; astro-particle physics activity with particular attention to the physics of very high energy cosmic rays, detection of neutrinos from astrophysical sources with detectors shielded from cosmic radiation in tunnels or undersea, dark matter. There are lines of research in applied physics on tomography with cosmic muons and environmental radioactivity.
Faculty: R. Barbera, P. La Rocca, A. Tricomi, C. Tuvè
The research activity in this area of Physics aims at the experimental study of elementary particles, the fundamental forces between them, the cross sections of the processes in which they are involved and the study of the states of hadronic matter existing in nature. These studies are conducted by means of colliders. The research groups of the Department of Physics and Astronomy active in this field of research use for their experiments the LHC colliders of CERN and RHIC of BNL and avail themselves of the close collaboration of the INFN Section of Catania and other Italian and foreign institutions.
Faculty: G.A. Anastasi, F. Cappuzzello, R. Caruso, S. Cherubini, G. Ferrara, G. Gallo, P. La Rocca, D. Lo Presti, C. Petta, S. Puglia, I. Tosta e Melo, C. Tuvè
The research activity in this area of Physics aims at the experimental study of radiation and particles of the cosmos with experiments conducted in surface, underground or submarine laboratories. The research groups of the Department of Physics and Astronomy are involved in several experiments of great interest that take place both in laboratories in Italy and abroad and with lines of research in applied physics on tomography with cosmic muons.
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Faculty: F. Cappuzzello, S. Cherubini, M. De Napoli, E.I. Geraci, B. Gnoffo, L. Lamia, I. Lombardo, A. Musumarra, G. Politi, R.G. Pizzone, S. Puglia, G.G. Rapisarda, F. Rizzo, S. Romano, M.L. Sergi
This research group studies the atomic nucleus, the characteristics of nuclear matter in various conditions of temperature and density, the structure of nuclei, their decay or transformation into other types of particles, the various reaction mechanisms between them and the processes of astrophysical interest. These studies are conducted through reactions between nuclei carried out at national laboratories, in particular at the LNS and LNL of the INFN, and foreign ones [such as CERN, GANIL (France), GSI (Germany), NSCL-MSU (USA), TAMU (USA)], at energies of 1-100 MeV per nucleon, using complex detection equipment. The results are then interpreted using advanced theoretical models. The area's activities also find application in the medical and environmental fields.
