The Space Science Center fosters research and graduate education in all of the space sciences with studies ranging from the ionosphere to the Earth's magnetosphere, the local solar system, and out to the farthest reaches of the universe.
Investigations of the Earth's environment in the solar system look at space as a laboratory for plasma physics. We conduct theoretical and satellite investigations of the solar-terrestrial radiation environment. High energy astrophysics investigations involve the sensing of energetic astrophysical objects with ground, balloon, and satellite detectors.
Cosmic Ray Group
The cosmic ray group studies energetic particle radiation in space. The particles of interest to us typically have energies in the range ~0.5 MeV to ~20,000 MeV. There are four sources for these high-energy particles: Galactic cosmic rays, the anomalous component, Solar energetic particles and planetary energetic particles. We study all these sources.
We are an experimental group and our instruments include ground-based neutron monitors and space based instruments on the Ulysses and IMP-8 spacecraft. The space-based instruments detect the energetic particles directly, while the neutron monitors detect secondary baryons produced by particles (mostly Galactic cosmic rays) colliding with nuclei in the atmosphere. We also have an active instrument development program with the goal of producing innovative new instruments for future space flight opportunities.
Professors: Jim Connell, Bruce McKibben and Cliff Lopate
Experimental Space Plasma Group
This is a collaboration of researchers working on several distinct Space Science projects. The 14 Professors, Research Professors, and Research Scientists in this program are using data from UNH instruments carried on the ACE, AMPTE, Cluster, Equator-S, FAST, IBEX, Polar, STEREO, SOHO, and Wind satellites. In addition, UNH researchers are actively involved in the development and building of the Magnetosphere MultiScale (MMS) and Radiation Belt Storm Probe (RBSP) missions. Data also are taken by instruments on sounding rockets and by ground based detectors. Most of the UNH experiments have concentrated on the measurement of electrons and of ions with various charges and masses. These data are analyzed in conjunction with magnetometer and electric field data measured by detectors developed either at UNH or at other collaborating institutions. The regions studied range from the solar wind or interplanetary plasma to the Earth's bow shock, magnetosheath, magnetosphere, and auroral regions.
Professors: Roy Torbert, Eberhard Mobius, Lynn Kistler, Toni Galvin, Charlie Farrugia, Harald Kucharek, Chuck Smith and Marc Lessard
High Energy Astrophysics
This group has carried out studies from high altitude balloons and from spacecraft. The principal UNH satellite based studies were carried aboard the Solar Maximum Mission and the Gamma Ray Observatory satellites. The UNH detectors measured emissions from the sun and from a number of galactic sources. Galactic gamma rays often are produced by the most dynamic and highest temperature plasmas in the universe. Efforts have concentrated on identifying and mapping sources, on studying the time dependence of emissions, on determining the spectrum and line structure of the sources, and on studies of the cosmic diffuse background radiation. The student designed CATSAT satellite, which is described separately below, is built to study gamma ray bursts.
Professors: Ed Chupp (emeritus), Jim Ryan, Mark McConnell
Space Plasma Theory Group
Solar-Terrestrial Theory Group
This group concentrates on theoretical studies related to the sun, with emphasis on the solar corona, solar flares and coronal mass ejections, the solar wind, cosmic rays, and the heliosphere. Major research areas include particle acceleration and transport throughout the heliosphere, and the heating and acceleration of the solar plasma. The group seeks to understand basic plasma physical processes such as magnetic reconnection, the nonlinear evolution of waves, and magnetohydrodynamic turbulence, and the roles those processes play in observed solar phenomena.
Professors: Marty Lee, Benjamin Chandran, Terry Forbes, Phil Isenberg, Bernie Vasquez, Sergei Markovskii and Joe Hollweg (emeritus)
Theoretical Plasma and Space Physics
The theoretical plasma physics group uses analytical and numerical methods to address a wide spectrum of problems of relevance to space, astrophysical, and laboratory plasmas. Germaschewski is involved in fundamental research on magnetic reconnection with applications to magnetospheric substorms, solar coronal heating and flares, and magnetic island dynamics in fusion plasmas. Raeder's research focuses on the global modeling of Earth's magnetosphere-ionosphere-atmosphere system to study the interaction of the solar wind with Earth's space environment. Besides the basic research aspect, that is, understanding the plasma interaction of planetary magnetospheres, this research has practical applications in the area of space weather effects, that is, harmful effects on technological systems, for example, satellites or power grids.
Professors: Jimmy Raeder and Kai Germaschewski
Lightning Physics
Thunderstorms and lightning remain poorly understood, despite being among the most widely recognized and dangerous natural phenomena on Earth. The lightning group performs experimental, theoretical, and modeling research to answer the key questions regarding the physics and effects of lightning and thunderstorms. We investigate thunderstorm electrification, lightning physics, X-ray and gamma-ray emissions from thunderstorms and lightning, transient luminous events (jets, sprites, elves, etc.), and their impact on earth’s atmosphere. We also study the fundamental electrical discharge processes and the plasmas created by them.
Professors: Joe Dywer and Ningyu Liu
