Humboldt Universitaet zu Berlin Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences Department of Physics auf deutsch

4020260114 Accelerator physics 101       

Präsenzkurs

classroom language

deutsch-englisch

aims

The course introduces students to the fundamentals of accelerator and beam physics. Participants will learn how particle motion is described, analyzed, and controlled in accelerators, and will gain hands-on experience with basic programming techniques used in beam dynamics. In addition, the course develops core scientific skills: preparing and delivering a scientific presentation, writing a structured report (such as a Bachelor’s thesis or scientific paper), and organizing research tasks efficiently. By the end of the course, students will be able to connect theoretical concepts with practical applications and communicate their findings in a professional scientific format.

requirements

Introductory courses in physics and maths.
Interest in particle accelerators.

structure / topics / contents

Particle accelerators are among the most powerful scientific instruments ever built. They enable fundamental discoveries in particle physics, generate intense X-ray and neutron beams for materials research, produce medical isotopes, and form the basis of modern cancer therapy. This course offers an accessible introduction to the physics and technology that underpin these machines, combining foundational theory with hands-on exposure to real accelerator facilities.

The course begins with guided visits to large-scale research infrastructures at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, including the synchrotron radiation source BESSY II and the proton therapy complex. These visits provide students with a first impression of how accelerators operate, what their components look like in practice, and why they are essential for both science and society.

The lecture portion of the course covers the basic principles of particle acceleration and beam manipulation. We work through the fundamentals of linear beam dynamics, including transverse and longitudinal particle motion, focusing and defocusing elements, magnetic optics, and the role of radio-frequency accelerating cavities. Additional units explore particle and photon sources, synchrotron radiation, accelerator magnets and magnetic field measurements, and selected modern topics such as laser–plasma accelerators, free-electron lasers (FELs), and high-energy colliders. Throughout, the focus is on developing intuition for how accelerator components shape beam properties such as energy, emittance, and intensity.

In the second part of the course, students take an active role by preparing a presentation or small programming project. Possible topics include electron and ion sources, building simple tracking codes for particle motion, characterizing magnetic elements, methods for beam diagnostics, and applications ranging from tumor therapy to the Large Hadron Collider. These projects strengthen conceptual understanding and give students the opportunity to explore an area of their interest in greater depth.

Guiding questions of the course include:
* What do we need particle accelerators for, and how do they work?
* How are particle beams generated, manipulated, and measured?
* How do magnets, cavities, and other accelerator elements affect beam dynamics?
* What is synchrotron radiation, and what are its applications?

By the end of the course, students will have gained a first but solid glimpse into the world of accelerator physics and technology—combining theoretical foundations with exposure to real research environments and modern applications.

assigned modules

P8f

amount, credit points; Exam / major course assessment

2 SWS, 6 SP/ECTS (Arbeitsanteil im Modul für diese Lehrveranstaltung, nicht verbindlich)
Oral examination with a short talk or project presentation followed by a discussion

other

Eine Mehrfachbelegung des Moduls P8.f im fachlichen Wahlpflichtbereich ist laut Studienordnung nicht möglich.

contact

Thorsten Kamps, thorsten.kamps@hu-berlin.de

Moodle link:

http://moodle.hu-berlin.de/course/view.php?id=139087