Experimental physics of fundamental interactions

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; experimental neutrino physics, with activities at Fermilab in the US and at CERN, dedicated to the study of neutrino oscillations, the search for new physics and the development of liquid argon Time Projection Chamber detectors; 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.

Experimental High Energy Physics

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.

Experimental astroparticle physics

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.

Experimental neutrino physics

Faculty: Silvio Cherubini, Catia Petta, Maria Letizia Pumo

Neutrinos are among most elusive particles of nature and they are at the center of numerous open questions, such as the origin of their mass, the mechanisms by which they oscillate from one flavor to another, the possible existence of new types of neutrinos, and the possible connection to the asymmetry between matter and antimatter in the Universe. These topics are studied through experiments with accelerators and dedicated neutrino beams, conducted as part of large international collaborations at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in the United States. The goal is to deepen our understanding of the properties of neutrinos and search for possible signs of new physics beyond the Standard Model.

Experimental physics of low and intermediate energies

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, 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.

Department of

Physics and Astronomy "Ettore Majorana"