Research Experience:
Dr. Sheldon obtained a B.S. in Physics from Wheaton College in 1981, an M.S. in Physics from the University of Maryland College Park, in 1982, an M.A. in Religion from Westminster Seminary in 1985, and a Ph.D. from the University of Maryland College Park in 1990. After several Research Associate positions at UMCP (90-92), University of Bern, Switzerland (93-95), and Boston University (96-98), he accepted an Associate Professor position at UAH in 1998.
Before his PhD in 1990, Dr. Robert Sheldon co-invented, designed, built, and calibrated the WIND/MASS Isochronous TOF sensor. Because of the long lead times to receive satellite data, he analyzed another TOF spectrometer, AMPTE/CHEM for his PhD thesis on the filling of the Earth's magnetospheric ring current. Then from 1993 to late 1995, he was at the University of Bern where he flight calibrated and flew the first SW isotopic mass spectrometer, WIND/SMS/MASS. After extensive work removing the internal mass fractionation effects of the spectrometer, which depend crucially on the velocity and temperature of the SW, he published the first measurement of isotopic composition (for elements other than noble gases). This background in both solar wind and magnetospheric physics was important in the recent MFSC Large Scale Test of M2P2 (magnetic balloons) that was recently completed (Fall 2000) at a large vacuum chamber at MSFC. But it was the synergy between magnetospheres, solar wind and dusty plasmas that have inspired his experimentalist approach to the problem of solar sails.
Selected Publications:
Hamilton, D.C., G. Gloeckler, F.M. Ipavich, R.A. Lundgren, R.B. Sheldon and D. Hovestadt, ``A new high resolution electrostatic ion mass analyzer using time of flight'', Rev. Sci. Instrum., Oct 1990
R. Sheldon ``Ion Transport and Loss in the Earth's Symmetric Quiet Ring Current: II. Diffusion and Magnetosphere-Ionosphere Coupling'', J. Geophys. Res., 99(A4) 5705-5720, 1994
R. Sheldon ``Plasmasheet Convection into the Inner Magnetosphere During Quiet Conditions'' in Solar Terrestrial Energy Program: COSPAR Colloquia Series Vol. 5 edited by D.N. Baker et al., Pergamom Press, 313-318, 1994.
R.B. Sheldon and T. Eastman ``Particle Transport in the Magnetosphere: A New Diffusion Model'', Geophy. Res. Let., 24(7), 811-814, 1997.
J. Chen, T. Fritz, R. Sheldon, H. Spence, W. Spjeldvik, J. Fennell, S. Livi,,``A New Trapped Population in the Polar Cap'' Geophys. Res. Lett., 24, 1447-1451, 1997.
M.G. Henderson et al., ``First Energetic Neutral Atom Images from POLAR/CEPPAD/IPS'' Geophys. Res. Lett., 24, 1167-1170, 1997.
R.B. Sheldon, H.E. Spence, J. Sullivan, T.Fritz, J.Chen, ``The Discovery of Trapped Energetic Electrons in the Outer Cusp'', Geophys. Res. Lett., 25, 1825-1828, 1998.
R.B. Sheldon, H. E. Spence and J. F. Fennell, ``Observation of 40 keV Field-Aligned Ion Beams'', Geophys. Res. Lett. 25, 1617-1620, 1998.
Research Experience:
Dr. Gallagher received the B.S. degree from Iowa State University in 1974, the M.S. degree from the University of Iowa in 1978, and the Ph.D. degree from the University of Iowa in 1982.
Following graduate school he joined the Physics faculty at the University of Alabama in Huntsville where he stayed for two years until leaving the position of Assistant Research Professor in 1984. Since 1984 he has worked for NASA in the Space Science Laboratory of Marshall Space Flight Center. He has worked in a variety of areas including the study of Auroral Kilometric Radiation, Doppler shifted short wavelength ion acoustic waves in the magnetosheath, terrestrial micropulsations, wave-packet bursts upstream of the Jovian bow shock, and dust impacts during transit of the Saturnian ring plane. He has become heavily involved in studying the effects of heavy ions on wave-particle plasma processes and with the empirical modeling of magnetospheric plasmas. In addition, he is serving as the Study Scientist for the Inner Magnetosphere Imager mission. Most recent work has involved the global, empirical modeling of inner magnetospheric plasmas. Accomplishments include a empirical derivation of the steady-state azimuthal profile of the plasmapause as a function of the level of geomagnetic activity and in relating this profile to the global electric field structure. The proposed investigation involves the direct extension of this recent effort.
Selected Publications:
Gallagher, D. L., J. D. Menietti, J.L. Burch, A.M. Persoon, J.H. Waite, Jr., and C.R. Chappell, Evidence of High Densities and Ion Outflows in the Polar Cap During the Recovery Phase, J. Geophys. Res., 91, 3321-3327, 1986.
Gallagher, D. L. and P. D. Craven, Initial Development of a New Empirical Model of the Earth's Inner Magnetosphere for Density, Temperature, and Composition, in Modeling Magnetospheric Plasma, AGU Monograph 44 (eds. T. E. Moore and J. H. Waite, Jr.) , p. 61, 1987.
Gallagher, D. L., P. D. Craven and R. H. Comfort, An Empirical Model of the Earth's Plasmasphere, Adv. Space. Res., 8, (8)15, 1988.
Gallagher, D. L., P. D. Craven, R.H. Comfort, and T.E. Moore, On the azimuthal variation of the equatorial plasmapause, J. Geophys. Res., 100, 23,597-23,605, 1995.
Gallagher, D. L., P.D. Craven, and R.H. Comfort, A simple model of magnetospheric trough total density, J. Geophys. Res., in review, 1997.
Olsen, R.C., S. D. Shawhan, D. L. Gallagher, J.L. Green, C.R. Chappell, and R. R. Anderson, Plasma Observations at the Earth's Magnetic Equator, J. Geophys. Res., 92, 2385-2407, 1987.
Research Experience:
Dr. Thomas received a B.S. degree in Physics from the Florida Institute of Technology in 1989, a M.S. degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1993, and a Ph.D. degree from Auburn University in 1996. Immediately following graduate studies, Dr. Thomas joined the faculty of Fisk University as an Assistant Professor of Physics. At Fisk, Dr. Thomas was responsible for establishing a new laboratory for experimental plasma physics with external funding from NASA, the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy. Experiments directed by Dr. Thomas focused on two areas: (a) the suppression and formation of low frequency (of order the ion cyclotron frequency) instabilities in rotating plasmas and (b) measurements of charging and particle transport in dusty plasmas. In January, 2000, Dr. Thomas accepted an offer from Auburn University and joined the Physics Department faculty as an Assistant Professor. Since the vast majority of the laboratory equipment moved from Fisk to Auburn, Dr. Thomas has been able to continue his experimental studies with only a minimal perturbation.
Dr. Thomas' work on dusty plasma is centered on his interests on particle transport in plasma. The centerpiece of these investigations is the first application of particle image velocimetry (PIV) techniques to the study of dusty plasma. These investigations have led to new descriptions of the confinement of the dust particles within laboratory plasmas and the impact of the dust particles on the potential structure of plasmas. This research experience with dusty plasma is directly applicable to this research effort.
Selected Publications:
E. Thomas, Jr. and M. Watson, ``The vertical confinement of a dusty plasma in the Fisk Plasma Source", in Physics of Dusty Plasmas, 7th Workshop, eds. M. Morayni, S. Robertson, and B. Walch, (AIP Press, Woodbury, NY, 1998), p. 60.
E. Thomas, Jr., ``Direct measurements of two-dimensional velocity profiles in direct current glow discharge dusty plasmas", Phys. Plasmas, 6, 2672 (1999).
E. Thomas, Jr. and M. Watson, ``First experiments in the Dusty Plasma Experiment (DPX) device", Phys. Plasmas, 6, 4111 (1999).
E. Thomas, Jr. and M. Watson, ``Charging of silica particles in an argon dusty plasma", Phys. Plasmas, 7, 3194 (2000).
E. Thomas, Jr. and R. L. Merlino, ``Particle motion in the vicinity to dust acoustic waves", under review, IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci.
E. Thomas, Jr., ``Observations of high speed particle streams in dc glow discharge dusty plasmas", accepted for publication in Phys. Plasmas (2000).
Research Experience:
Dr. Abbas received his Ph.D. from the University of Rhode Island in 1967 with a dissertation on plasma waves in the upper atmosphere. He held the positions of Assistant Professor at Ohio University and Associate Professor at the University of Kentucky from 1968 to 1974. He was at the Laboratory for Extraterrestrial Physics at NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center in 1974 as NAS/NRC Senior Research Associate, and jointly as a faculty member of the Astronomy Program at the University of Maryland from 1976 to 1979. At Goddard, he contributed in particular to the development of programs on infrared observations of the Earth's stratosphere and planetary atmospheres, and infrared astronomy. He was with the Department of Physics and Atmospheric Science at Drexel University from 1979 to 1987 as Associate Professor and Research Professor of Physics. At Drexel University he was involved in teaching graduate and undergraduate courses and carrying out research in the areas of: atmospheric physics, radiative transfer, and infrared spectroscopy of atmospheres. He joined the Space Science Laboratory at NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center in 1987, where his current research activities focus on studies of the Earth's upper atmosphere, planetary atmospheres, and laboratory studies of Cosmic dust particles. He served as a member of the Mission Scientist team on ATLAS 1 and ATLAS 3 Space Shuttle Missions in 1992 and 1994, and was a member of the ATMOS science team for data analysis of the four ATMOS Shuttle missions. He is a Co-Investigator on the Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) experiment on the Cassini mission launched in October 1997, and is currently developing programs for analysis and interpretation of infrared observations of Jupiter, Saturn and Titan by CIRS. He is also involved in a laboratory program for experimental studies of the analogs of cosmic dust particles. He has authored/co-authored some 60 refereed journals publications and numerous conference presentations published in abstract form.
Selected Publications:
``Infrared remote sensing from the Cassini orbiter", V. Kunde, G. Bjoraker, J. Brusunas. F. M. Flasar, D. Jennings, P. Romani, R. Maichle, D. Gautier, R. Courtin, A. Marten, G. Michel, M. Abbas, L. Herath, R. Carlson, in Optical Spectroscopic Instrumentation and Techniques for the 1990s, Applications in Astronomy, Chemistry, and Physics, SPIE, Vol. 1318, 123-132, 1990
``Nighttime reactive nitrogen measurements from stratospheric infrared thermal emission observations", M. M. Abbas, V. G. Kunde, J. C. Brasunas, J. R. Herman, S. T. Massie, J. Geophys. Res., Vol. 96, 10,885-10,897, 1991.
``The hydrogen budget of the stratosphere inferred from ATMOS measurements of H2O and CH4", M. M. Abbas, M. R. Gunson, M. J. Newchurch, H. A. Michelson, R. J. Salawitch, M. Allen, M. C. Abrams, A. Y. Chang, A. Goldman, F. W. Irion, E. J. Moyer, R. Nagaraju, C. P. Rinsland, G. P. Stiller, and R. Zander, Geophys. Res. Lett., Vol. 23, 2405, 1996.
``Laboratory study of charging mechanisms and infrared cross sections for single interplanetary dusty plasma particles,'' J. F. Spann, M. M. Abbas, C. C. Venturini, R. H. Comfort, Cambridge Symposium Workshop, Lisbon, Portugal, July 1998.
``Electrodynamic balance for studies of cosmic dust particles,'' J. F. Spann, M. M. Abbas, C. C. Venturini, R. H. Comfort, Physica Scripta, December 2000 (to be published).
Research Experience:
Dr. Adrian received both a B.S. degree in Physics in 1989 and a M.S. degree in Physics from the University of Iowa, and a Ph.D. degree from the University of Alabama in Huntsville in 2000. Currently, Dr. Adrian is a National Research Council Associate located at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center.
While in graduate school, Dr. Adrian participated in the development and implementation of both laboratory- and space-based plasma diagnostic hardware. During his tenure at the University of Iowa Dr. Adrian assisted with the calibration and integration of a cold-cathode neutral pressure gauge (NPG) in the experimental package of the Space Power Experiment Aboard Rocket (SPEAR) III sounding rocket. In addition, Dr. Adrian was involved with Langmuir probe characterization of plasma loaded with hydrocarbon dust. After moving to the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Dr. Adrian assembled and tested the Thermal Electron Capped Hemisphere Spectrometer (TECHS) for flight aboard the Sounding of the Cleft Ion Fountain Energization Region (SCIFER) sounding rocket.
Dr. Adrian's current research interests remain wide-ranging. Dr. Adrian continues analysis of data supplied by the entire SCIFER scientific suite in order to quantify the role of low energy electrons in the generation and maintenance of auroral and cleft ion outflows. In addition, Dr. Adrian continues to pursue interests in the development of plasma diagnostic hardware. This includes a continuing analysis of the TECHS design concept in an effort to enhance the energy and imaging resolution of the sensor itself, as well as the pursuit of miniaturizing the instrument's supporting electronics. His interest in instrument development have also led to Dr. Adrian's interest and participation in the design and implementation of diagnostic techniques required in the preliminary laboratory validation of the Mini-Magnetosphere Plasma Propulsion (M2P2) concept at Marshall Space Flight Center.
Selected Publications:
Pickett, J.S., D.D. Morgan, R.L. Merlino, M.L. Adrian, G.A. Berg, and W.J. Raitt, Payload Environment and Gas Release Effects on Sounding Rocket Neutral Pressure Measurements, J. Spacecraft and Rockets, 33, 501, 1996.
Pollock, C.J., V.N. Coffey, J.D. England, N.G. Martinez, and M.L. Adrian, Thermal Electron Capped Hemisphere Spectrometer (TECHS) for Ionospheric Studies, in Measurement Techniques in Space Plasmas: Particles, Geophysical Monograph, 102, R.F. Pfaff, J.E. Borovsky, and D.T. Young, editors, page 201, American Geophysical Union, Washington, D.C., 1998.
Research Experience:
Dr. Craven received the B. S. degree from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa in 1967. He has received an M. S. and Ph. D. degree from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, earning the Ph. D. Degree in December of 1993.
After joining the Magnetospheric Branch in the Space Science Laboratory, Dr. Craven participated in the analysis of data from the Light Ion Mass Spectrometer on the SCATHA satellite helping to provide temperature and density characteristics for the low energy ions in the plasmasphere and plasma trough. He is also involved in statistical studies using the data from the Retarding Ion Mass Spectrometer (RIMS) on the Dynamics Explorer 1 satellite. He has conducted a survey of the temperatures obtained from RIMS characterizing their behavior based on solar and geomagnetic activity and has completed an extensive survey of N+ and He+ in the inner magnetosphere based on the RIMS data with comparisons in the upper ionosphere to the results of the Field Line Hemispheric Plasma (FLIP), a physical model of the plasma on plasmaspheric field lines. He has participated extensively in developing methods for automatically reducing the large database from RIMS to temperature and density values for each ion. He is participating in using the RIMS data in the development of an empirical model of the total density of plasmaspheric plasma. He is also presently involved in the operation of the TIDE instrument on the POLAR spacecraft and in the analysis of the data from that instrument, examining high latitude outflows and plasmaspheric characteristics where possible.
Dr. Craven served as the Assistant Mission Scientist on Spacelab 1 which flew in 1983 and in the same capacity on the ATLAS 1 mission which was completed in April, 1992.
Selected Publications:
Reasoner, D. L. , P. D. Craven and C. R. Chappell, Characteristics of Low-Energy Plasma in the Plasmasphere and Plasma Trough, J. Geophys. Res., 88, 7913, 1983.
Craven, P. D., R. H. Comfort, P. G. Richards, and J. Grebowsky, Comparisons of modeled N+, O+, H+, and He+ in the mid-latitude ionosphere with mean densities and temperatures from Atmospheric Explorer, J. Geophys. Res., 100, 257, 1995.
Gallagher, D. L. and P. D. Craven, Initial Development of a New Empirical Model of the Earth's Inner Magnetosphere for Density, Temperature, and Composition, in Modeling Magnetospheric Plasma, AGU Monograph 44 (eds. T. E. Moore and J. H. Waite, Jr.) , p. 61, 1987.
Fok, M.-C., P. D. Craven, T. E. Moore, and P. G. Richards, Ring current - plasmasphere coupling through Coulomb collisions, in Cross-Scale Coupling in Space Plasma, Geophys. Monogr. 93., edited by J. L. Horwitz, N. Singh, and J. L. Burch, , AGU, Washington, D. C., p.161, 1996.
Craven, P.D., D.L. Gallagher, and R.H. Comfort, The relative concentration of He+ in the inner magnetosphere as observed by DE1/RIMS, J. Geophys. Res., 102, 2279, 1997.