FYS9565 – Physics and Applications of Accelerators and Beams

Course content

The course gives an introduction to particle accelerator technology, with a basis in physical principles and mathematical modeling of the interaction of charged particle beams with electromagnetic fields. The course covers basic microwave technology and beam optics, as well as more advanced topics as plasma wakefield acceleration. The applications of particle accelerators to high-energy physics (circular and linear colliders), material science (synchrotron light sources and neutron spallation sources) as well as medical technology (particle therapy) will also be covered.

Learning outcome

After you have completed this course:

• you will understand how different particle accelerators are designed (linear accelerators, cyclotrons and synchrotrons), as well as the possibilities and limitations of the different accelerator types.
• you will master simple calculations and methods for numerical simulations describing how a particle beam is accelerated, focused and measured.
• you will have knowledge of machines for high-energy physics, including studies for future linear and circular colliders.
• you will have knowledge about the accelerator science research frontier, including laser- and plasma wakefield acceleration.
• you will have knowledge about the most important applications of particle accelerators to particle physics, material science and medical technology.
• you will master theory and techniques for numerical simulations of charged particle beams.

Admission to the course

PhD candidates from the University of Oslo should apply for classes and register for examinations through Studentweb.

If a course has limited intake capacity, priority will be given to PhD candidates who follow an individual education plan where this particular course is included. Some national researchers’ schools may have specific rules for ranking applicants for courses with limited intake capacity.

PhD candidates who have been admitted to another higher education institution must apply for a position as a visiting student within a given deadline.

Recommended previous knowledge

• FYS3110 – Quantum Mechanics
• FYS3120 – Classical Mechanics and Electrodynamics
• FYS3500 – Introduction to Nuclear and Particle Physics

Overlapping courses

• 10 credits overlap with FYS4565 – Physics and Applications of Accelerators and Beams.
• 5 credits overlap with FYS4550 – Experimental high energy physics (discontinued).
• 5 credits overlap with FYS9550 – Experimental high energy physics (discontinued).

Teaching

• 2 hours of lectures per week.
• 2 hours of theory and numerical simulation exercises per week.
• Weekly group discussions

One mandatory home assignment must be approved before you can sit for the final exam.  

Examination

• Final oral exam which counts 100 % towards the final grade.

This course has mandatory exercises that must be approved before you can sit the final exam.

It will also be counted as one of the three attempts to sit the exam for this course, if you sit the exam for one of the following courses: FYS4565 – Physics and Applications of Accelerators and Beams

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.

Resit an examination

Students who can document a valid reason for absence from the regular examination are offered a postponed exam at the beginning of the next semester.

New examinations are offered at the beginning of the next semester for students who do not successfully complete the exam during the previous semester.

We do not offer a re-scheduled exam for students who withdraw during the exam.

More about examinations at UiO

• Use of sources and citations
• Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
• Withdrawal from an exam
• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Explanation of grades and appeals
• Resitting an exam
• Cheating/attempted cheating

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.