Product Description
Over recent years there has been marked growth in interest in the study of techniques of cosmic ray physics by astrophysicists and particle physicists. Cosmic radiation is important for the astrophysicist because of the information it can yield about astrophysical processes in the farther reaches of the universe. For particle physicists, it provides the opportunity to study neutrinos and very high energy particles of galactic origin. More importantly, cosmic rays constitute the background, and in some cases possibly the signal, for the more exotic, unconfirmed hypothesized particles, such as monopoles and sparticles. Concentrating on the highest energy cosmic rays, this book describes from where they originate, how they acquire energy, and how they interact in accreting neutron stars, supernova remnants, and large-scale shock waves. It also describes their interactions with the atmosphere and the earth and how they are studied by surface and very large underground detectors.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 3.5 based on 3 reviews)

Fairly dated by now, but was important in remaking the cosmic ray + particle physics by Michael A. Duvernois (Minneapolis, MN United States)

4 Stars
January 14, 2009
The early history of particle physics is cosmic ray physics. But after the invention of the cyclotron and generations of accelerator-based particle physics, the two fields had drifted far apart. This well-written little book by Tom Gaisser rebuilt the connections. Now we have "non-accelerator particle physics" and people working in air showers who consider themselves to be doing high energy physics. It would be great for there to be a new edition of this book. Updated with Auger results, modern neutrino experiments, Askaryan pulse experiments, and the like...

on one equation

3 Stars
July 31, 2003
I looked at equation (3.22) for other purpose (than counting cosmic ray particle collisions) and there seems to be a sign mistake in the first equation (integrated mass

Fills a huge gap

4 Stars
June 21, 2000
With interest in cosmic rays and particle astrophysics growing, Tom Gaisser's Cosmic Rays and Particle Physics is really the only contemporary introduction to the field suitable for undergraduates as well as beginning graduate students. There is no attempt to be fully comprehensive - the field is too broad for that - but processes relating to extensive air showers and their products (including muons and neutrinos) are covered in some detail. I regularly recommend this book to students who are considering research in particle astrophysics. There are a few gaps and a few topics covered in more detail than most people need, as is typical for a first edition. I hope Prof. Gaisser will find the time to prepare a revised and updated edition soon!

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