Master thesis topics 2019/20

Prof. Dr. Philipp Mertsch

with Prof. Dr. Michael Krämer and Dr. Andrea Vittino

TTK, RWTH Aachen University

8 July 2019

Philipp Mertsch Master thesis topics 2019/20 8 July 2019 1/9

Dark matter indirect detection
• Annihilation or decay of dark matter can produce Standard Model particles
• Astrophysical sources also accelerate cosmic rays
• To discriminate, need excellent understanding of the astrophysics
Gamma-ray halos around pulsar wind nebulae
Pulsar wind nebulae
• B-fields of 1012 G
• e± accelerated to ∼ 100 TeV
→ An ideal laboratory for high-energy astrophysics

Philipp Mertsch Master thesis topics 2019/20 8 July 2019 3/9

Gamma-ray halos around pulsar wind nebulae

Your project
• Model the interplay of plasma waves and cosmic rays
• Reproduce the gamma-ray halo around Geminga
• Investigate global picture in Galaxy

Philipp Mertsch Master thesis topics 2019/20 8 July 2019 4/9

Gamma-ray halos around pulsar wind nebulae

Your project
• Model the interplay of plasma waves and cosmic rays
• Reproduce the gamma-ray halo around Geminga
• Investigate global picture in Galaxy

Philipp Mertsch Master thesis topics 2019/20 8 July 2019 4/9

Dark matter searches in cosmic ray antiprotons
(jointly supervised with Prof. Krämer)
4
10
Proton Voyager
φ=673 MV AMS-02
10
3 CREAM

E k Flux (GeV m 2 s sr -1)

-1
102

1
10

2
100

10-1
10-3 10-2 10-1 100 101 102 103 104 105 106
E k (GeV)

Philipp Mertsch Master thesis topics 2019/20 8 July 2019 5/9

Dark matter searches in cosmic ray antiprotons
(jointly supervised with Prof. Krämer)
4
10
Proton Voyager
φ=673 MV AMS-02
10
3 CREAM

E k Flux (GeV m 2 s sr -1)

-1
102

1
10

2
100

10-1
10-3 10-2 10-1 100 101 102 103 104 105 106
E k (GeV)

Really due to dark matter?

Philipp Mertsch Master thesis topics 2019/20 8 July 2019 5/9

Dark matter searches in cosmic ray antiprotons
(jointly supervised with Prof. Krämer)

Your project
• Model the effect of solar wind
• Interpret latest data from AMS-02 experiment
→ Any room for dark matter?

Philipp Mertsch Master thesis topics 2019/20 8 July 2019 6/9

New statistical methods for Galactic diffuse emission

Philipp Mertsch Master thesis topics 2019/20 8 July 2019 7/9

New statistical methods for Galactic diffuse emission

Philipp Mertsch Master thesis topics 2019/20 8 July 2019 7/9

New statistical methods for Galactic diffuse emission
Data model: d =Rs +n noise, cov. matrix N

signal, cov. matrix S

Optimal linear estimator: L(s) = P(s|d) = N (s − m, D)

with posterior maximum:

m = (S −1 + R † N −1 R)−1 R † −1
N d
| {z } | {z }
propagator: D source: j

Your project
• Model response operator R
• Apply to simulation data
• Apply to real data → any excess left?

Philipp Mertsch Master thesis topics 2019/20 8 July 2019 8/9

Prerequisites

• Course work on
I “Astroparticle physics”,

I “The Non-Thermal Universe” or

I “Neutron Stars, Black Holes and Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Rays”

would be great!
• Enthusiasm to learn about the Universe at the highest energies
• Phenomenological interest
• Experience with coding most welcome, mostly C++ and python

Philipp Mertsch Master thesis topics 2019/20 8 July 2019 9/9