Astrophysics and astronomy of elementary particles

Sub-atomic physics turned out to be a key to understanding many of the processes occurring in the Universe. A new field of scientific research has emerged: astroparticle physics. Entirely new instruments are necessary for that field. Experience accumulated by NCBJ researchers in elementary particle physics is a very valuable asset also in astroparticle physics.

Prototype Pi of the Sky apparatus for monitoring light bursts possibly originating in extra-galactic explosions have been built in Poland by co-operating teams from IPJ, Polish Academy of Sciences Theoretical Physics Center, Institute of Experimental Physics of the Warsaw University, and Institute of Electronic Systems of the Warsaw Technical University. Since July 2004 the apparatus has been observing the sky at the Las Campanas range in Chile.