Cosmic Rays and Particle Physics [Paperback]

Thomas K. Gaisser (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521339316 | ISBN-13: 978-0521339315 | Publication Date: January 25, 1991

Over recent years there has been marked growth in interest in the study of techniques of cosmic ray physics by astrophysicists and particle physicists. Cosmic radiation is important for the astrophysicist because in the farther reaches of the universe. For particle physicists, it provides the opportunity to study neutrinos and very high energy particles of galactic origin. More importantly, cosmic rays constitue the background, and in some cases possibly the signal, for the more exotic unconfirmed hypothesized particles such as monopoles and sparticles. Concentrating on the highest energy cosmic rays, this book describes where they originate, acquire energy, and interact, in accreting neutron stars, supernova remnants, in large-scale shock waves. It also describes their interactions in the atmosphere and in the earth, how they are studied in surface and very large underground detectors, and what they tell us.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...a thorough overview of the physics of cosmic-ray cascades in the atmosphere and underground as they have been shaped by the needs and developments of high-energy physics in the last decade. The treatment of all the topics is concise and based on or supplemented by sufficient physical argumentation to allow a much clearer understanding of the accompanying equations. The presentation is excellent and very useful to graduate students (to whom the book is mainly addressed) and also for researchers wishing to familiarize themselves with cosmic-ray cascades and cosmic rays in general, and there are a number of reviews and references provided that should suffice as a first step for a more thorough study." Nature

Book Description

Concentrating on the highest energy cosmic rays, this work describes where they originate, acquire energy, and interact, in accreting neutron stars, supernova remnants, and in large-scale shock waves.

Product Details

• Paperback: 296 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (January 25, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521339316
• ISBN-13: 978-0521339315
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,133,271 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fills a huge gap, June 21, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Cosmic Rays and Particle Physics (Hardcover)

With interest in cosmic rays and particle astrophysics growing, Tom Gaisser's Cosmic Rays and Particle Physics is really the only contemporary introduction to the field suitable for undergraduates as well as beginning graduate students. There is no attempt to be fully comprehensive - the field is too broad for that - but processes relating to extensive air showers and their products (including muons and neutrinos) are covered in some detail. I regularly recommend this book to students who are considering research in particle astrophysics. There are a few gaps and a few topics covered in more detail than most people need, as is typical for a first edition. I hope Prof. Gaisser will find the time to prepare a revised and updated edition soon!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fairly dated by now, but was important in remaking the cosmic ray + particle physics, January 14, 2009

By 

Michael A. Duvernois (Minneapolis, MN United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Cosmic Rays and Particle Physics (Paperback)

The early history of particle physics is cosmic ray physics. But after the invention of the cyclotron and generations of accelerator-based particle physics, the two fields had drifted far apart. This well-written little book by Tom Gaisser rebuilt the connections. Now we have "non-accelerator particle physics" and people working in air showers who consider themselves to be doing high energy physics.

It would be great for there to be a new edition of this book. Updated with Auger results, modern neutrino experiments, Askaryan pulse experiments, and the like...

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars on one equation, July 30, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Cosmic Rays and Particle Physics (Paperback)

I looked at equation (3.22) for other purpose (than counting
cosmic ray particle collisions) and there seems to be a sign mistake in the first equation (integrated mass <25g/cm^2): as
it is, the equation indicates that the mass increases as the
air column gets smaller (or higher altitude).

It seems to be a pretty colorful "fitting formula" and it
could have been more useful if the reference to M. Shibata can
be found in the reference list (p.264: paperback) which may
have information on which "data" (most likely a combination
of measurements/modeling/computations) the formula originates from.

I presume that the next volume will have improved.

** the rating should be dismissed: I did not read through the
book and do not have a judgement. I chose the middle because I did not have choice not to choose. It will affect the
arithmetic statistics and if it matters, it is an unfortunate result of the limited survey method that mandates a choice of rating.