Principal Investigator

Ph.D., 1980 - University of Chicago

My research involves experimental and theoretical projects involving solar energetic particles, interplanetary effects, magnetospherically trapped particles, and the origin, acceleration, and transport of the Galactic Cosmic Rays. 1) TRANSPORT experiments to measure heavy ion nuclear fragmentation cross sections for use in modeling the propagation of cosmic ray nuclei through interstellar space, working at the LBL Bevalac heavy ion accelerator, using the Heavy Ion Spectrometer System (HISS) and the Zero-Degree Spectrometer we studied the breakup of ¹⁶O - ⁴⁰Ca ions on H, C, and CH2 targets. 2) A new cosmic ray experiment, the Advanced Thin Ionization Calorimeter (ATIC), is extending the JACEE measurements with a fully active Bismuth Germanate calorimeter, covering the energy range 10¹² - 10¹⁴ eV. ATIC was calibrated at CERN, and has flown twice in Antarctica. 3) We are involved in mission concept studies/designs for the proposed ACCESS (Advanced Cosmic ray Composition Experiment for the Space Station) mission. ACCESS will consist of a calorimeter to measure the spectra of protons, helium, and light nuclei up to the knee (for which ATIC is a prototype) and a transition radiation detector to measure the flux and composition of heavier nuclei. 4) The development of a fast (30 microsecond time resolution) charge coupled devices plus finely segmented scintillator arrays capable of detecting individual x-rays and gamma rays will (for the first time) allow x-ray/gamma ray spectroscopy with a CCD. Although the primary application is a hard x-ray telescope (MARGIE, Minute-of-Arc Resolution Gamma ray Imaging Experiment) capable of localizing gamma ray bursts and performing an all-sky hard x-ray survey on a 100-day Ultra-Long Duration Balloon flight, the detectors have applications to medical imaging and biological research, nondestructive testing, and remote surveillance. I am also heavily involved in Education/Outreach, principally K-12 teacher enhancement and public outreach, involving the Highland Road Park Observatory for which I serve on the executive committee and am director of projects. I was a PI on the "Physics Learning and Astronomy Training Outreach (PLATO)" teacher training project, have been PI on IDEAS, SERCH and NASA E/PO project and am currently project director for Louisiana Aerospace Catalysis Experiences for Students (LaACES) and PI of the "Informal Continuing Education in Space Science" project.