Astroparticle Physics

Astroparticle Physics combines the study of the smallest building blocks with the exploration of the largest structures of the universe. Astroparticle physicists study the sources of cosmic radiation and the mechanisms of cosmic accelerators. At the same time, researchers from this programme investigate the so-called dark matter, the presence of which could previously be inferred only from its gravitational effect.

The focus of this programme is the continuation of involvement at the Pierre Auger Observatory and at the ICECUBE Collaboration. The Pierre Auger Collaboration plans to extend the measurements to include the entire sky. In Karlsruhe, accompanying research as regards radio detection of air showers takes place. The neutrino telescope ICECUBE will be completed and guarantees a wealth of results in the next programme period. In connection with this, DESY plans to contribute to the preparatory work on the Cerenkov Telescope Array. The search for dark matter is becoming ever more important as a result of new astronomical studies and is to be expanded through the KIT taking a leading role in the European project EURECA. Comprehensively, the so-called Multimessenger Analysis is being advanced, in which information from several celestial sources are to be combined. The KATRIN experiment will conduct its measurements in this programme period and enable the worldwide most sensitive measurement of neutrino mass.