The current document contains information to guide the graduate students and the supervising Professors during the didactical and research activities of the “Sapienza” graduate studies in Accelerator Physics.
General Objectives
This PhD programme is the only one in Italy oriented to the Accelerator Theory and Practice. It aims to prepare young researchers, profiting of the high level facilities both in the University and in the INFN, the National Institute for High Energy Physics. The lectures are devoted to an improvement in the knowledge in Physics, acquired in the graduation courses, to the principles of the Accelerator Theory and to their applications in the different domains of this science. The students will be required to follow both theoretical and practical lectures in the INFN laboratories.
First Year
During the first year, the graduate students must pass a set of courses for a total of 18 credits, equivalent to approximately 144 hours of classroom teaching.
The choice of courses can occur within a vast spectrum.
First of all, the graduate students have access to Courses which are organized specifically for the graduate studies in Accelerator Physics at the Sapienza University.
Also, the participation to international courses on Accelerator Physics with a final exam (e.g. JUAS(mettere link) are strongly encouraged.
Finally, given that students of this PhD conduct research activity in sites far from La Sapienza, it will be possible to attend exams at Master or PhD level in other Universities or Research Institutes, provided the topic is related to the PhD program. In this case
Given the vast variety of possibilities each student will have to present within December a study program that will have to be approved by the Teaching Board.
General seminars
During the tree years of the graduate studies, the graduate students are strongly advised to attend all of the seminars of their interest which are held at the Department and all graduate studies seminars held by Italian of foreign teachers or the graduate students themselves.
Thesis project
A project plan for the thesis (agreed upon with the supervisor), has to be handed over to the Teaching Board by the academic year.
Second Year
Specialized seminars
Students are encouraged to follow specialized seminars held by either Italian or foreign teachers and seminars organized and held by the graduate students themselves in the place where they conduct their research.
Thesis project and seminar
Based on the delivered project plan a referee will be appointed. By the end of the academic year the student will have to present a report and a seminar In front of the Teaching Board on the research activity performed within the context of the thesis. Based on the evaluation of the seminar and on the external referee’s report of the thesis report, the Teaching Board decides who is admitted to the third year.
The seminar is an important moment during the training of the graduate student. It has the scope to both communicate the results of one’s work to others (whether or not professors), as to demonstrate the ability of knowing where to place one’s own research activity in a general framework and of mastering the subject at hand and the methods that are used.
The seminar also serves the Teaching Board to evaluate the level of preparation the graduate student has reached. In case the latter is conceived to be unsatisfactory, the teaching board can ask the graduate student to retake the seminar.
Hand’s on Training
In addition to the first year courses and the seminars it is required to have at least 3 credits of hand’s on training in accelerator physics (laboratories, control room stages, …
Third Year
Final Seminar
The graduate students have to hold a final seminar on the work they performed during the period of October-November.
Research thesis
The third year is dedicated exclusively to the thesis, which has to be sent to the external referee decided by the Teaching Board. The role of the external referee is to judge the final version of the thesis. This written and subscribed judgment is attached to the thesis, together with the report of the Teaching Board and the advice of the supervising professor, needed to obtain the PhD title.
At the latest by December 15, a copy of the PhD thesis has to be registered at the (general) sector for graduate studies. This copy needs to be deposited on a magnetic device (floppy disk or CD), on which the following information is placed by means of an appropriate sticker: surname, name, graduate studies, session, year in which the final exam was sustained, software used (including year and version of release).
Attaining the PhD title
Immediately after the thesis has been handed in, the Rector composes the Commission consisting of three members chosen among those who have the specific competencies in the foreseen disciplinary sectors. The candidates are responsible for sending the thesis, signed by the Coordinator, completed with the judgments of the referee, the supervising professor and the report of the Teaching Board. The final exams have to occur within four months from the appointment of the Commission.
The PhD title is conferred by the Rector. Upon request, the university will certify its attainment. Following the release of the title, that very university is responsible for depositing a copy of the final thesis at the National library of Rome and Florence.