Mike Liemohn Group

My primary research topics are electron transport and wave-particle interactions in various space environments. Currently, I am studying lightning-generated whistlers and their effect on radiation belt electrons by calculating event-specific diffusion coefficients. I am also working with Lulu Zhao on the CLEAR project studying SEP transport using the PArMiSAN model.

3rd-year PhD (CLaSP)

My research includes analyzing measurements from various spacecraft (such as Wind and the Advance Composition Spectrometer, ACE) to study the solar wind and ionospheric proton (H+) breakdown in Earth’s magnetosphere and its variation for different solar wind conditions and interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) configurations. In the end, we hope this will help us better understand the dynamics of mass and energy flow during space weather and geomagnetic events.

#OutflowComposition #SatelliteData

4th-year PhD (CLaSP)

My research focuses on understanding fluid instabilities in Saturn's inner magnetosphere by a combination of model development (utilizing the Hot Electron and Ion Drift Integrator) and data from plasma instruments (MIMI, CAPS, MAG, RPWS) on Cassini-Huygens. Understanding of fluid instabilities can be extended to other systems at Earth (ionosphere) and Jupiter, and supports foundations for future space exploration. This work is funded by the AFRL.

Before this project, my research focused on the importance of diverse metrics in SWMF-IE model validation and verification in the aurora.

#ComparativeMagnetospheres #Modeling #SatelliteData #PlasmaInstabilities

4th-year PhD (Applied Physics)

My research focuses on the dawn-dusk asymmetry at the Mars magnetotail current sheet using the Block Adaptive Tree Solar wind Roe-Type Upwind Scheme (BATS-R-US) multispecies MHD code. The Martian atmosphere is losing its atmosphere as a result of its interaction with the solar wind coming from the Sun. The BATS-R-US code is used to simulate the solar wind interaction at Mars and will eventually be compared to NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) instrument to observe unique behavior of the Martian magnetotail.

#ComparativeMagnetospheres #Modeling #SatelliteData

1st-year PhD (CLaSP)

My research explores the relationship between planetary moon activity and plasma transport, namely through characterization of the rotationally-driven magnetospheric environments of Jupiter and Saturn. Through the application of kinetic modeling (HEIDI) and in-situ data analysis (JUNO, Cassini), I strive to gain a picture of how global ion and neutral composition, dependent upon moon activity/properties, shapes inner magnetosphere particle dynamics.

Prior to joining the Liemohn team at Michigan, I worked as a post-baccalaureate researcher at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), where my research investigated heavy ion asymmetries in the inner magnetosphere of Earth. Learn more about my research here.

#ComparativeMagnetospheres #JovianMoons #Modeling #SatelliteData