Quantum gravity effects on astroparticle propagation: interaction threshold effects
Course at the DFG School “Searching for Quantum Gravity in the Sky”, in Bad Honnef, Germany.
This lecture series explores the search for quantum gravity (QG) effects using astroparticle probes. The first lecture provides a comprehensive introduction, detailing how to model the transport of astroparticles in various astrophysical environments. It will cover fundamental concepts such as cross sections, mean free paths, and key interaction processes that influence gamma rays, cosmic rays, and neutrinos. The second lecture focuses on deviations from the standard picture presented in the first lecture, illustrating how QG effects alter the propagation of astroparticles. Special emphasis will be placed on how interaction thresholds are modified due to QG effects. The final lecture deals with advanced modelling techniques that can be employed for this type of study, specifically transport equations and Monte Carlo methods, and presents several astrophysical scenarios as case studies for detecting potential QG signals.