Space Plasma Physics Section

The Space Plasma Physics Section of the Space Science and Engineering Division is engaged in a comprehensive program of experimental and theoretical investigations of the terrestrial middle to upper atmosphere, ionosphere, and neighboring geospace plasma environment, including solar-terrestrial interactions. The section is also actively engaged in studies of planetary magnetospheres and exospheres, and is participating in a program of laboratory measurements of photoabsorption cross sections. Specific theoretical investigations include photoelectron, auroral electron, cosmic ray, solar extreme ultraviolet (EUV) and X-ray energy deposition into the upper and middle atmosphere, terrestrial and planetary photochemistry, airglow, and exosphere models.

Section-developed instrumentation has or will be flown on the Dynamics Explorer 1 and 2 satellites, the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite, the Cassini mission to Saturn, the Imager for Magnetopause to Aurora Global Exploration (IMAGE), and others. The staff has also been active in the development of data systems for these missions, as well as for the upcoming Cluster mission and the Space Shuttle Tether 1-R satellite reflight.

Researchers within the section are working on the analysis of datasets from Dynamics Explorer (HAPI, LAPI), CRRES/LOMICS, UARS (PEM, WINDII), GOES, and the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (BATSE), NASA sounding rocket experiments (PULSAUR, ARIA-I, II), and the upcoming Interball (Coral, SCA-1), Tethered Satellite System (ROPE), IMAGE (MENA), and POLAR (TIDE and TIMAS) experiments. Research within the Space Science and Engineering Division is funded primarily by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the National Science Foundation.

William Lewis, Principal Scientist

Technical strengths and contacts in the section include:

Flight Instrumentation -- Design and Development:

• Soft particle spectrometers, laboratory calibrations, flight operations (UARS/PEM), data analyses (UARS)
  Dr. Rudy A. Frahm
  
  
• Soft particle spectrometers, auroral rocket programs (SCIFER, CAPER), thermal ion mass spectrometers (POLAR: TIDE/PSI), energetic neutral atom imagers (IMAGE/MENA)
  Dr. Craig J. Pollock
  
  
• Soft particle spectrometers, auroral rocket programs (PULSAUR, ARIA), data analysis (DE, UARS/PEM)
  Dr. James R. Sharber
  
  
• Energetic ion mass spectrometers, data systems development (Cassini/CAPS), data analysis (POLAR: TIDE, TIMAS, CRRES/LOMICS)
  
  

Theory and Simulation:

• Thermospheric dynamics
  
  
• Planetary atmospheres and exospheres
  James P. Cravens
  
  
• Optical and chemical aeronomy, electron transport, atmospheres and ionospheres, laboratory cross section measurements
  William Lewis
  
  

April 09, 2008