Cosmic Ray Muon Physics

We present a review of atmospheric and underground muon flux measurements. The relevance of these data for the atmospheric neutrino flux computation is emphasized. Possible sources of systematic errors in the measurements are discussed, focusing on the sea level muon data. Underground muon data are also reported

Atmospheric Neutrinos and Neutrino Oscillations

After some generalities on neutrino oscillations and on neutrinos, the recent experimental results presented by Soudan 2, MACRO and SuperKamiokande at the Neutrino'98 conference are summarized and discussed

Cosmological magnetic fields by parametric resonance?

We investigate the possibility that electromagnetic fluctuations are amplified in expanding universe by parametric resonance, during the oscillatory regime of a scalar field to which they are coupled. We consider scalar electrodynamics and we find that electromagnetic fluctuations undergo exponential instabilities. This mechanism could have some relevance for the problem of large scale primordial magnetic fields

Introduction to the Workshop "30 years of bubble chamber physics"

After some recollections of the early bubble chamber times, a brief overview of the golden age of the field is made, including its legacy and the use of bubble chamber events for the popularization of science

Hadron-nuclei collisions at high energies

A brief historical review is made of the hadron-hadron (hh) total cross section and hadron-nucleus absorption cross section measurements, made mainly at high energy proton synchrotrons. Then I shall discuss low p_tprocesses, including diffraction processes and fragmentation of nuclei in nucleus-nucleus collisions. Nucleus-nucleus collisions at higher energy colliders are then considered, mainly in the context of the search for the gluon quark plasma. Conclusions and a short discussion on perspectives follow

The MACRO Experiment at Gran Sasso

In this overview of the MACRO experiment we recall the structure of the detector and discuss several physics topics: atmospheric neutrinos and neutrino oscillations, high energy neutrino astronomy, searches for WIMPs and for low energy stellar gravitational collapse neutrinos, stringent upper limits on GUT magnetic monopoles, high energy downgoing muons, primary cosmic ray composition and shadowing of primary cosmic rays by the Moon and the Sun

Summary of MACRO results on exotic physics

MACRO was a multi-purpose experiment that took data from 1989 to 2000, at the underground Laboratory of Gran Sasso (Italy). MACRO gave important results/limits concerning: (i) the oscillation of atmospheric neutrinos, also in the non-conventional scenario of violations of Lorentz invariance, (ii) the searches for exotic particles (supermassive GUT magnetic monopoles, nuclearites, WIMPs), (iii) muon physics and astrophysics. A summary of the MACRO results will be presented and discussed, focusing the attention on the exotica searches

Science,technology and society

We shall discuss some aspects of science and technology, their increasing role in the society, the fast advances in modern science, the apparent decrease of interest of the young generation in basic sciences, the importance of proper science popularization for better public education and awareness in scientific fields

Some Remarks on the Question of Charge Densities in Stationary-Current-Carrying Conductors

Recently, some discussions arose as to the definition of charge and the value of the density of charge in stationary-current-carrying conductors. We stress that the problem of charge definition comes from a misunderstanding of the usual definition. We provide some theoretical elements which suggest that positive and negative charge densities are equal in the frame of the positive ions

Fragmentation cross sections of 158 A GeV Pb ions in various targets measured with CR39 nuclear track detectors

We report the measurement of the fragmentation cross sections in high-energy nucleus-nucleus collisions using the 158 A GeV Pb beam from the CERN-SPS. The fragments have charges changed from that of the incident projectile nucleus by $\Delta Z=Z_{Pb}-Z_{frag}$, with 8 <\Delta Z <75. The targets range from polyethylene to lead. Charge identification is made with CR39 nuclear track detectors, measured with an automatic image analyzer system. The measured fragmentation cross sections are parameterized with an empirical relation in terms of the atomic mass of the target, and of the charge of the final fragment