Kenneth Gayley, Theoretical space physics

• Analytic calculations in ideal magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) of Alfvén-wave growth in accelerated plasmas; detection volumes for neutrinos striking solar-system targets
• Students perform analytic work followed by more complete computations
• Students' experience in writing dynamic numerical simulations prepares them for positions either as academic postdocs or as software specialists in industry

  Donald Gurnett, Experimental space physics

• Experimental studies of planetary radio emissions and plasma waves
• Analysis of plasma data from Voyagers 1 and 2 now approaching interstellar space; Cassini in orbit around Saturn; Cluster, which consists of four spacecraft in Earth orbit; and Mars Express in orbit around Mars
• Students analyze spacecraft data
• Supervised over 50 space physics thesis projects; former students now at NASA centers, industry, other universities
• Students also interact with other group members, including research scientists, engineers, and programmers

  Gregory Howes, Theoretical plasma physics

• Turbulence in the magnetized plasmas found in laboratories, space and astrophysics
• Analysis of spacecraft data from the turbulent solar wind
• Students develop skills including high-performance computing on the nation's fastest supercomputers, analysis of simulation and observational data, and development of simple analytical models to interpret results
• Students also interact with group members including a postdoc and collaborators around the world

  Craig Kletzing, Experimental space plasma physics

• Physics of the aurora, radiation belts, and magnetosphere
• Space missions include Cluster (a joint NASA-ESA four-spacecraft mission to study the Earth's magnetosphere); Cusp Alfvén and Plasma Electrodynamics Rocket; Magnetospheric Multiscale; Van Allen Probes
• On-campus facilities include clean room; two vacuum chambers and an electronics lab
• Students participate in the analysis of satellite data and in the hardware construction of detectors and electronics for NASA sounding rockets
• Students also interact with other group members including research scientists and an engineer, as well as scientists from UCLA, Dartmouth, and NASA's Wallops Flight Facility

  Robert Mutel, Observational and computational space physics

• Spacecraft observations made using Cluster, which is a group of four spacecraft operated by the European Space Agency, and Cassini, and international spacecraft orbiting Saturn
• Planetary radio emissions are studied using the Cluster and Cassini spacecraft
• Students develop programming skills
• Students also interact with group members including a programmer as well as other astronomy faculty

  Jack Scudder, Experiment and observation of space plasmas

• Analysis of data from NASA's Polar spacecraft, in Earth orbit
• Search for geophysically important plasma processes in near-Earth plasmas
• Computer-intensive research
• Students develop skills in: writing codes in C, Fortran and IDL, and numerical methods
• Employment opportunities are postdoc positions at universities and national labs
• Students will also interact with group members including software engineers as well as other faculty

  Steven Spangler, Observational and theoretical space physics

• Solar wind and the transition from the solar corona to the solar wind
• Students analyze data from both ground-based instruments and spacecraft
• Students analyze data from: ACE, which is NASA's spacecraft in the solar wind, and ISEE, which is a NASA and European Space Agency spacecraft
• Students develop skills in numerical methods, writing code in C and other languages