Tuesday 7^th April 2009, 4:00 P.M.

Università "La Sapienza" Roma - Aula Conversi (Physics Dept., Old Building - 1^st floor)

Title: Prompt and early afterglow of Gamma-ray bursts from an observational perspective

Abstract: The field of GRBs has been considerably renewed since the discoveries of BeppoSAX and the launch of SWIFT. The possibility to acquire in few seconds positions with good accuracy has permitted to observe them at optical and infrared wavelengths in few minutes. TAROT, probably the most rapid telescope, has been able to get observational data on the prompt phase of GRBs as well as the transition to the early afterglow. These results and the interpretation which can be made will be presented, together with some multiwavelength analysis.

Presentation: PPT

Wednesday 8^th April 2009, 11:00 A.M.

Università "La Sapienza" Roma - Sala Direzione INFN (Physics Dept., Old Building - 2nd floor )

Title: High energy observations of Gamma-ray bursts with Fermi

Abstract: The Fermi Observatory is advancing knowledge of gamma-ray bursts by making observations at energies never explored. The Large Area Telescope (LAT) has an unprecedented sensitivity for observations above about 20 MeV. The Gamma-Ray Burst Monitor (GBM) extends the energy range for GRBs from the LAT threshold down to about 8 keV. During the first six months of mission the GBM have already detected more than 100 bursts and several of these have showed emission up to GeV energies. In this talk I review the main results from Fermi-LAT GRB observations.

Thursday 16^th April 2009, 4:00 P.M.

Università "La Sapienza" Roma - Aula Majorana (Physics Dept., Old Building - ground floor )

Title: Into the darkness: The distribution of dark matter in our Galaxy

Abstract: Predictions for the detection prospects of dark matter rely on an accurate understanding of the matter distribution in our Galaxy, down to very small scales. In my talk, I will review recent results from high-resolution simulations of cosmic structure formation that provide a highly detailed view of dark matter clustering and lead to new suggestions for the best strategy to find dark matter in the Milky Way.

Thursday 29^th April 2009, 4:00 P.M.

Università "La Sapienza" Roma - Aula Majorana (Physics Dept., Old Building - ground floor )

Title: L'adronizzazione come fenomeno statistico

Abstract: Studi compiuti negli ultimi dieci anni dimostrano che le abbondanze e gli spettri trasversi degli adroni prodotti nelle collisioni di alta energia sia di particelle elementari che di ioni pesanti sono in accordo con una sorgente all'equilibrio termodinamico a una temperatura (per sistemi con numero barionico nullo) di circa 160 MeV. Questo risultato ha riportato all'attenzione il modello statistico di adronizzazione, originariamente formulato da Fermi e Hagedorn, la cui interpretazione è tuttora oggetto di dibattito.

Presentation:  PDF

Thursday 30^th April 2009, 4:00 P.M.

Università "La Sapienza" Roma - Aula Majorana (Physics Dept., Old Building - ground floor )

Title: The Barbero-Immirzi field in Nieh-Yan modified gravity

Abstract: The spectra of Loop Quantum Gravity are characterized by a one-parameter quantization ambiguity, the so called Barbero-Immirzi parameter. Recently it has been suggested to promote the BI parameter to a field. In this talk we propose a generalization of the Holst action, which generates a natural coupling between gravity and the BI field, in order to study the possible implications for cosmology.