DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATIONS OF NOVEL INSTRUMENTATION AND EXPERIMENTAL METHODS IN ASTROPARTICLE PHYSICS

Astroparticle physics is a multidisciplinary field of research, where particle physics, astronomy, astrophysics and cosmology converge. The rapid development of the field has led to design and construction of infrastructures whose size, complexity and cost reach levels requiring the cooperation of several scientific teams from different countries.

The proposed research program aims to a significant contribution to international research projects of Neutrino Astroparticle Physics, including the design, construction and operation of a Very Large Volume Underwater Mediterranean Neutrino Telescope, KM3NeT, and a Dedicated SuperNova Detector Network as well as to study Cosmic Rays Physics.

The objectives of this research project include

• the development of innovative instrumentation, simulation tools, data analysis and experimental methodology for the detection of high and low energy neutrina from cosmic sources,
• the development of particle detectors, fast digitization electronic systems, and experimental techniques for the detection of Extensive Air Showers that are caused by high energy cosmic rays and
• the development of spin-off applications of particle detector instrumentation to the environmental Sciences (e.g to measurements of the environmental neutron radioactivity and to the monitoring of the anthropogenic, non ionizing electromagnetic radiation) as well as the exploitation of research facilities as platforms for advancing educational programs for educators, students and the general public.