Throughout the ages, mankind has been intrigued by the nature of the Universe
in which he lives. Starting with the earliest observations of the starry heavens,
gradually a more systematic approach of scientific investigation has been developed,
which has resulted in a macroscopic description of nature based on the laws of
classical mechanics, thermodynamics and electromagnetism.
However, at the beginning of the twentieth century, the advent of the theories of
relativity and quantum mechanics completely changed our view on the physical world.
These new developments marked the birth of modern physics, which enables description
of the Universe both on the smallest and largest scale.
In the study concerning the basic structure of matter, physicists have achieved
a theoretical framework, the so-called Standard Model of particle physics,
describing the elementary building blocks and the interactions amongst them.
Within this model nuclear matter consists of pointlike particles called quarks
and the strong interaction between these quarks is mediated by the exchange of
massless gluons.
In addition to the quarks there exists a second group of elementary particles,
the so-called leptons amongst which we find the familiar electron.
Under normal conditions the quarks are confined in groups to form particles
like the proton and neutron which in turn are the entities to form various nuclei.
However, statistical calculations within the Standard Model indicate that at extremely
high densities the quarks and gluons will become deconfined, leading to a new state
of matter, the so-called Quark-Gluon Plasma (QGP).
Such a deconfined state might exist in the cores of neutron stars and is expected to
have been present in the very early universe.
In this introduction a qualitative overview of the main aspects of elementary
particle physics will be provided and also the connection with astrophysics and
the Standard Model of cosmology (the Big Bang) will be addressed.
Furthermore, a brief description will be given concerning observations of
astrophysical phenomena by means of Cosmic Ray studies and the principles of
Neutrino Astronomy will be discussed.
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