Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Investigating Signs Of Orbital Decay In The Tres-1 Exoplanetary System, Amanda F. Wester

Honors Theses and Capstones

Transit observations of exoplanetary systems can be used to investigate orbital decay. TrES-1b is an exoplanet hypothesized to be experiencing orbital decay due to observed transit timing variations (TTVs) [12]. Numerous transits must be observed to establish a long term pattern to conclusively determine if the planet’s orbit is decaying. Measurements were made using the UNH Observatory where 2 transits were observed of the TrES-1b transiting system on February 27, 2022 and March 5, 2022. A CCD camera was used to image the transit and capture calibration images. The software AstroImageJ (AIJ) was used to calibrate the images and perform …

Development Of A Fluxgate Magnetometer Model, Eleonora Olsmats

Honors Theses and Capstones

As a part of the UNH SWFO-L1 mission to monitor space weather and the sun’s behavior, the fluxgate magnetometer is an important component to measure external magnetic fields. The basic principle of a fluxgate magnetometer is to detect changes in the ambient magnetic field by inducing a magnetic field in a ferromagnetic material via a drive winding. Each magnetometer is unique due to the ferromagnetic properties of the core material which can be seen in the hysteresis loop which is a relationship between the magnetic field strength (H) and the induced magnetic field (B). Measuring the hysteresis of a fluxgate …

Searching For The Common Suprathermal Power Law Tail In Parker Solar Probe's Isois Data, Asher S. Merrill

Honors Theses and Capstones

Results from the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) and the Ulysses spacecraft suggested the existence of a pervasive power-law spectrum of suprathermal ions in the solar wind with a spectral index of -3/2. This distribution is of particular interest to humanity because the suprathermal ions it describes can serve as the seed population for large, destructive events that can harm ground- and air-based equipment. It has been suggested that various statistical mechanisms can produce the observed spectrum, however the underlying physical phenomena are not yet known. The spectrum of suprathermal ions is relatively unstudied closer to the Sun than 1 au. …

Normalization Of Leadville Neutron Monitor To Climax Neutron Monitor, Brian J. O'Connor

Honors Theses and Capstones

No abstract provided.

Improving Photometry And Astrophotography By Eliminating Dark Frames And Flat Fields, Tom C. Ireland

Honors Theses and Capstones

I report on the efforts to improve the dark frames and flat fielding procedure for the charged-coupled device (CCD) camera for the Celestron C14 telescope at the UNH observatory. Dark frames are images taken while the shutter of the camera is closed so that only electronic and dark noise and other internal inconsistencies are recorded. These are important because they allow astronomers to subtract out interference from dark current. Additionally, flat fields are images of the entire field of the telescope so that the brightness in the pixels of the telescope’s field of view is uniform. Flat fields are vital …

Determination Of Multi-Messenger Signals From Matter Outflows Of Merger Systems, Ronny Nguyen

Honors Theses and Capstones

In 2017, LIGO detected gravitational waves from GW170817. This presented for the first time, gravitational waves originating from a neutron star - neutron star merger. Studies of neutron star mergers are significant because the multi-messenger signals in the form of gravitational waves and electromagnetic waves can inform us on the nuclear physics of neutron stars and the creation of heavy elements in the universe. Matter is ejected in the merging process and forms the outflow which provides a neutron-rich environment for rapid neutron capture (r-process) to occur leading to the nucleosynthesis of heavy elements. What we detect on Earth are …

Analysis Of Autoguiding For Exoplanet Transit Research At The Unh Observatory, Anthony Cappuccio

Honors Theses and Capstones

This paper will discuss the proper calibration technique for an autoguider of a CCD camera and the results that follow from successful exoplanet transit observations. A brief background on exoplanets, the transit method, and the analysis of their parent stars through photometry will be examined. The results will be presented in a before and after framework that will visually represent the data improvements from autoguiding as graphical Light Curves (LC). The addition of being able to autoguide at the UNH observatory will work towards providing future students with the possibility of performing follow-up ground-based observations and archiving their work online …

Unh Observatory Exoplanet Transit Depth Limit, Nicholas R. Larose

Honors Theses and Capstones

Using the University of New Hampshire Observatory, we performed multiple exoplanet transits observations on a variety of systems. Of these transits, those performed with ideal weather conditions were chosen to do extensive analysis on. The transit chosen for initial analysis was HAT-P-56b. We then used Z-Score values, along with the average mean and standard deviation collected from multiple transits to determine a minimum possible transit depth of 7.4 +/- 0.6 mmag. This value will allow UNH to access exoplanet transit observation and / or confirm potential exoplanets, thus making the UNH Observatory more research capable. A follow up threshold transit …

Charged Particle Filter For Entrance Of Imap-Lo, Daniel Abel

Honors Theses and Capstones

No abstract provided.

Relationship Between Interplanetary Conditions And Changes In The Geomagnetic Field To Understand The Causes Of Geomagnetically Induced Currents, Cameron P. Maillet

Honors Theses and Capstones

Geomagnetically Induced Currents (GICs) are electrical currents induced in ground-level conductive networks, like power lines and pipelines, which can cause costly damage to infrastructure. GICs are induced in response to fast changes in the geomagnetic field (GMF) according to Faraday’s Law of Electromagnetic Induction. The purpose of this study was to identify the parameters of the solar wind and interplanetary shocks which are most strongly correlated with large, fast changes in the magnitude of the GMF. GMF data is 1-min averaged time series of mid- and high-latitude magnetometer measurements in the Sym/H and AL indices, respectively. For solar wind data, …

Observations Of Ion Density And Temperature Around The International Space Station During Two Geomagnetic Storms, Alex M. Wright

Honors Theses and Capstones

The International Space Station (ISS) is a low Earth orbit research facility and host to an international crew. Geomagnetic storms cause changes in the Earth’s magnetic field and affect the ion density and temperature in the ionosphere which could pose a hazard to ISS crew. This hazard is measured by the Floating Potential Measurement Unit (FPMU) which measures ion density, ion temperature, and the charge differential of the ISS relative to its surrounding environment. I analyzed data collected by Narrow Sweep Langmuir Probe for two storms in 2015. Ion density and temperature were affected by geomagnetic storms, but the effects …

Extreme Geomagnetic Disturbances Due To Shocks Within Cmes, Noe E. Lugaz, Charles J. Farrugia, Chia-Lin L. Huang, Harlan E. Spence

Physics & Astronomy

We report on features of solar wind-magnetosphere coupling elicited by shocks propagating through coronal mass ejections (CMEs) by analyzing the intense geomagnetic storm of 6 August 1998. During this event, the dynamic pressure enhancement at the shock combined with a simultaneous increase in the southward component of the magnetic field resulted in a large earthward retreat of Earth's magnetopause, which remained close to geosynchronous orbit for more than 4 h. This occurred despite the fact that both shock and CME were weak and relatively slow. Another similar example of a weak shock inside a slow CME resulting in an intense …

Update On Radiation Dose From Galactic And Solar Protons At The Moon Using The Lro/Crater Microdosimeter, J. E. Mazur, Cary Zeitlin, Nathan A. Schwadron, M. D. Looper, Lawrence W. Townsend, J. B. Blake, Harlan E. Spence

Physics & Astronomy

The NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) has been exploring the lunar surface and radiation environment since June 2009. In Mazur et al. [2011] we discussed the first 6 months of mission data from a microdosimeter that is housed within the Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation (CRaTER) instrument onboard LRO. The CRaTER microdosimeter is an early version of what is now a commercially available hybrid that accurately measures total ionizing radiation dose in a silicon target (http://www.teledynemicro.com/product/radiation-dosimeter). This brief report updates the transition from a deep solar minimum radiation environment to the current …

Butterfly Pitch-Angle Distribution Of Relativistic Electrons In The Outer Radiation Belt: Evidence Of Nonadiabatic Scattering, Nikolai O. Artemyev, O. V. Agapitov, F. S. Mozer, Harlan E. Spence

Physics & Astronomy

In this paper we investigate the scattering of relativistic electrons in the nightside outer radiation belt (around the geostationary orbit). We consider the particular case of low geomagnetic activity (|Dst|<20 nT), quiet conditions in the solar wind, and absence of whistler wave emissions. For such conditions we find several events of Van Allen probe observations of butterfly pitch angle distributions of relativistic electrons (energies about 1–3 MeV). Many previous publications have described such pitch angle distributions over a wide energy range as due to the combined effect of outward radial diffusion and magnetopause shadowing. In this paper we discuss another mechanism that produces butterfly distributions over a limited range of electron energies. We suggest that such distributions can be shaped due to relativistic electron scattering in the equatorial plane of magnetic field lines that are locally deformed by currents of hot ions injected into the inner magnetosphere. Analytical estimates, test particle simulations, and observations of the AE index support this scenario. We conclude that even in the rather quiet magnetosphere, small scale (magnetic local time (MLT)-localized) injection of hot ions from the magnetotail can likely influence the relativistic electron scattering. Thus, observations of butterfly pitch angle distributions can serve as an indicator of magnetic field deformations in the nightside inner magnetosphere. We briefly discuss possible theoretical approaches and problems for modeling such nonadiabatic electron scattering.

Disappearance Of Plasmaspheric Hiss Following Interplanetary Shock, Zhenpeng Su, Hui Zhu, Fuliang Xiao, Yuming Wang, Chao Shen, Min Zhang, Shui Wang, C A. Kletzing, W. S. Kurth, G. B. Hospodarsky, Harlan E. Spence, Geoffrey Reeves, H. O. Funsten, J. B. Blake, D. N. Baker, J. R. Wygant

Physics & Astronomy

Abstract Plasmaspheric hiss is one of the important plasma waves controlling radiation belt dynamics. Its spatiotemporal distribution and generation mechanism are presently the object of active research. We here give the first report on the shock-induced disappearance of plasmaspheric hiss observed by the Van Allen Probes on 8 October 2013. This special event exhibits the dramatic variability of plasmaspheric hiss and provides a good opportunity to test its generation mechanisms. The origination of plasmaspheric hiss from plasmatrough chorus is suggested to be an appropriate prerequisite to explain this event. The shock increased the suprathermal electron fluxes, and then the enhanced …

Unraveling The Drivers Of The Storm Time Radiation Belt Response, E. K.J. Kilpua, H. Hietala, D. L. Turner, H. E.J. Koskinen, T. I. Pulkkinen, J. V. Rodriguez, Geoffrey Reeves, S. Claudepierre, Harlan E. Spence

Physics & Astronomy

We present a new framework to study the time evolution and dynamics of the outer Van Allen belt electron fluxes. The framework is entirely based on the large-scale solar wind storm drivers and their substructures. The Van Allen Probe observations, revealing the electron flux behavior throughout the outer belt, are combined with continuous, long-term (over 1.5 solar cycles) geosynchronous orbit data set from GOES and solar wind measurements A superposed epoch analysis, where we normalize the timescales for each substructure (sheath, ejecta, and interface region) allows us to avoid smearing effects and to distinguish the electron flux evolution during various …

Energetic, Relativistic And Ultra-Relativistic Electrons: Comparison Of Long-Term Verb Code Simulations With Van Allen Probes Measurements, A. Drozdov, Y. Y. Shprits, K. Orlova, A. C. Kellerman, D. A. Subbotin, D. N. Baker, Harlan E. Spence, Geoffrey Reeves

Physics & Astronomy

In this study, we compare long-term simulations performed by the Versatile Electron Radiation Belt (VERB) code with observations from the Magnetic Electron Ion Spectrometer and Relativistic Electron-Proton Telescope instruments on the Van Allen Probes satellites. The model takes into account radial, energy, pitch angle and mixed diffusion, losses into the atmosphere, and magnetopause shadowing. We consider the energetic (>100 keV), relativistic (~0.5–1 MeV), and ultrarelativistic (>2 MeV) electrons. One year of relativistic electron measurements (μ = 700 MeV/G) from 1 October 2012 to 1 October 2013 are well reproduced by the simulation during varying levels of geomagnetic …

Analysis Of Plasmaspheric Hiss Wave Amplitudes Inferred From Low-Altitude Poes Electron Data: Technique Sensitivity Analysis, M. De Soria-Santacruz, W. Li, R. M. Thorne, Q. Ma, J. Bortnik, B. Ni, C A. Kletzing, W. S. Kurth, G. B. Hospodarsky, Harlan E. Spence, Geoffrey Reeves, J. B. Blake, Joseph F. Fennell

Physics & Astronomy

A novel technique capable of inferring wave amplitudes from low-altitude electron measurements from the Polar Operational Environmental Satellites (POES) spacecraft has been previously proposed to construct a global dynamic model of chorus and plasmaspheric hiss waves. In this paper we focus on plasmaspheric hiss, which is an incoherent broadband emission that plays a dominant role in the loss of energetic electrons from the inner magnetosphere. We analyze the sensitivity of the POES technique to different inputs used to infer the hiss wave amplitudes during three conjunction events with the Van Allen Probes. These amplitudes are calculated with different input models …

Study Of Emic Wave Excitation Using Direct Ion Measurements, Kyungguk Min, Kaijun Liu, J. Bonnell, Aaron W. Breneman, Richard E. Denton, H. O. Funsten, Joerg-Micha Jahn, C A. Kletzing, W. S. Kurth, B. A. Larsen, Geoffrey Reeves, Harlan E. Spence, J. R. Wygant

Physics & Astronomy

With data from Van Allen Probes, we investigate electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) wave excitation using simultaneously observed ion distributions. Strong He band waves occurred while the spacecraft was moving through an enhanced density region. We extract from helium, oxygen, proton, and electron mass spectrometer measurement the velocity distributions of warm heavy ions as well as anisotropic energetic protons that drive wave growth through the ion cyclotron instability. Fitting the measured ion fluxes to multiple sinm-type distribution functions, we find that the observed ions make up about 15% of the total ions, but about 85% of them are still missing. By …

Van Allen Probes Show That The Inner Radiation Zone Contains No Mev Electrons: Ect/Mageis Data, J. F. Fennell, S. Claudepierre, J. B. Blake, T. P. O'Brien, J. H. Clemmons, D. N. Baker, Harlan E. Spence, Geoffrey Reeves

Physics & Astronomy

Abstract

We present Van Allen Probe observations of electrons in the inner radiation zone. The measurements were made by the Energetic Particle, Composition, and Thermal Plasma/Magnetic Electron Ion Spectrometer (MagEIS) sensors that were designed to measure electrons with the ability to remove unwanted signals from penetrating protons, providing clean measurements. No electrons >900 keV were observed with equatorial fluxes above background (i.e., >0.1 el/(cm² s sr keV)) in the inner zone. The observed fluxes are compared to the AE9 model and CRRES observations. Electron fluxes <200 keV exceeded the AE9 model 50% fluxes and were lower than the higher-energy model fluxes. Phase space density radial profiles for 1.3 ≤ L* < 2.5 had mostly positive gradients except near L*~2.1, where the profiles for μ = 20–30 MeV/G were flat …

On The Use Of Drift Echoes To Characterize On-Orbit Sensor Discrepancies, T. P. O'Brien, S. Claudepierre, M. Looper, J. B. Blake, J. F. Fennell, J. H. Clemmons, J. Roeder, S. G. Kanekal, J. W. Manweiler, D. G. Mitchell, M. Gkioulidou, L. J. Lanzerotti, Harlan E. Spence, Geoffrey Reeves, D. N. Baker

Physics & Astronomy

No abstract provided.

Shock-Induced Prompt Relativistic Electron Acceleration In The Inner Magnetosphere, J. C. Foster, J. R. Wygant, M. K. Hudson, A. J. Boyd, D. N. Baker, P. J. Erickson, Harlan E. Spence

Physics & Astronomy

Abstract

We present twin Van Allen Probes spacecraft observations of the effects of a solar wind shock impacting the magnetosphere on 8 October 2013. The event provides details both of the accelerating electric fields associated with the shock and the response of inner magnetosphere electron populations across a broad range of energies. During this period, the two Van Allen Probes observed shock effects from the vantage point of the dayside magnetosphere at radial positions of L = 3 and L = 5, at the location where shock-induced acceleration of relativistic electrons occurs. The extended (~1 min) duration of the accelerating …

Van Allen Probes Observations Linking Radiation Belt Electrons To Chorus Waves During 2014 Multiple Storms, Si Liu, Fuliang Xiao, Chang Yang, Yihua He, Qinghua Zhou, C A. Kletzing, W. S. Kurth, G. B. Hospodarsky, Harlan E. Spence, Geoffrey Reeves, H. O. Funsten, J. B. Blake, D. N. Baker, J. R. Wygant

Physics & Astronomy

Abstract

During 18 February to 2 March 2014, the Van Allen Probes encountered multiple geomagnetic storms and simultaneously observed intensified chorus and hiss waves. During this period, there were substantial enhancements in fluxes of energetic (53.8–108.3 keV) and relativistic (2–3.6 MeV) electrons. Chorus waves were excited at locations L = 4–6.2 after the fluxes of energetic were greatly enhanced, with a lower frequency band and wave amplitudes ∼20–100 pT. Strong hiss waves occurred primarily in the main phases or below the location L = 4 in the recovery phases. Relativistic electron fluxes decreased in the main phases due to the …

Dielectric Breakdown Weathering Of The Moon's Polar Regolith, Andrew P. Jordan, T. J. Stubbs, Jody K. Wilson, Nathan A. Schwadron, Harlan E. Spence

Physics & Astronomy

Abstract

Galactic cosmic rays and solar energetic particles (SEPs) can charge the Moon's subsurface, a process expected to be particularly important in the polar regions. Experiments have shown that sufficient fluences (i.e., time-integrated fluxes) of energetic charged particles can cause dielectric breakdown, in which the electric field rapidly vaporizes small, filamentary channels within a dielectric. Lunar regolith has both the characteristics and, in some polar locations, the environment needed to make breakdown likely. We combine the Jet Propulsion Laboratory proton fluence model with temperature measurements from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter's (LRO's) Diviner instrument and related temperature modeling to estimate how …

Formation Of The Oxygen Torus In The Inner Magnetosphere: Van Allen Probes Observations, M. Nose, S. Oimatsu, K. Keika, C. A. Kletzing, W. S. Kurth, S. De Pascuale, Charles W. Smith, R. J. Macdowall, S. Nakano, Geoffrey Reeves, Harlan E. Spence, Bradford Larsen

Physics & Astronomy

We study the formation process of an oxygen torus during the 12–15 November 2012 magnetic storm, using the magnetic field and plasma wave data obtained by Van Allen Probes. We estimate the local plasma mass density (ρ_L) and the local electron number density (n_eL) from the resonant frequencies of standing Alfvén waves and the upper hybrid resonance band. The average ion mass (M) can be calculated by M ∼ ρ_L/n_eL under the assumption of quasi-neutrality of plasma. During the storm recovery phase, both Probe A and …

Plasmatrough Exohiss Waves Observed By Van Allen Probes: Evidence For Leakage From Plasmasphere And Resonant Scattering Of Radiation Belt Electrons, Hui Zhu, Zhenpeng Su, Fuliang Xiao, Huinan Zheng, Yuming Wang, Chao Shen, Tao Xian, Shui Wang, C A. Kletzing, W. S. Kurth, G. B. Hospodarsky, Harlan E. Spence, Geoffrey Reeves, H. O. Funsten, J. B. Blake, D. N. Baker

Physics & Astronomy

Abstract

Exohiss waves are whistler mode hiss observed in the plasmatrough region. We present a case study of exohiss waves and the corresponding background plasma distributions observed by the Van Allen Probes in the dayside low-latitude region. The analysis of wave Poynting fluxes, suprathermal electron fluxes, and cold electron densities supports the scenario that exohiss leaks from the plasmasphere into the plasmatrough. Quasilinear calculations further reveal that exohiss can potentially cause the resonant scattering loss of radiation belt electrons ∼

The Energetic Particle Detector (Epd) Investigation And The Energetic Ion Spectrometer (Eis) For The Magnetospheric Multiscale (Mms) Mission, B. H. Mauk, J. B. Blake, D. N. Baker, J. H. Clemmons, Geoffrey Reeves, Harlan E. Spence, S. E. Jaskulek, C. E. Schlemm, L. E. Brown, Steve Cooper, J. V. Craft, J. F. Fennell, R. S. Gurnee, C. M. Hammock, J. R. Hayes, P. A. Hill, G. C. Ho, J. C. Hutcheson, A. D. Jacques, S. Kerem, D. G. Mitchell, K. S. Nelson, N. P. Paschalidis, E. Rossano, M. R. Stokes, J. H. Westlake

Space Science Center

Abstract

The Energetic Particle Detector (EPD) Investigation is one of 5 fields-and-particles investigations on the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission. MMS comprises 4 spacecraft flying in close formation in highly elliptical, near-Earth-equatorial orbits targeting understanding of the fundamental physics of the important physical process called magnetic reconnection using Earth’s magnetosphere as a plasma laboratory. EPD comprises two sensor types, the Energetic Ion Spectrometer (EIS) with one instrument on each of the 4 spacecraft, and the Fly’s Eye Energetic Particle Spectrometer (FEEPS) with 2 instruments on each of the 4 spacecraft. EIS measures energetic ion energy, angle and elemental compositional distributions from …

Plans For The Next Grape Balloon Flight, Mark L. Mcconnell, Peter F. Bloser, T P. Connor, Camden Ertley, Jason S. Legere, James M. Ryan, Sambid K. Wasti

Space Science Center

The Gamma RAy Polarimeter Experiment (GRAPE) was first flown on a 26-hour balloon flight in the fall of 2011. GRAPE consists of an array of Compton polarimeter modules (based on traditional scintillation technologies) designed to operate in the energy range from 50 keV up to 500 keV. The ultimate goal is to operate GRAPE in a wide FoV configuration for the study of gamma-ray bursts. For the first (demonstration) balloon flight, GRAPE was configured in a collimated mode to facilitate observations of known point sources. The Crab nebula/pulsar, the active Sun, and Cygnus X-1 were the primary targets for the …

Scintillator Gamma-Ray Detectors With Silicon Photomultiplier Readouts For High-Energy Astronomy, Peter F. Bloser, Jason S. Legere, Chris Bancroft, Mark L. Mcconnell, James M. Ryan, Nathan Schwadron

Space Science Center

Space-based gamma-ray detectors for high-energy astronomy face strict constraints of mass, volume, and power, and must endure harsh operating environments. Scintillator materials have a long history of successful operation under these conditions, and new materials offer greatly improved performance in terms of efficiency, time response, and energy resolution. The use of scintillators in space remains constrained, however, by the mass, volume, and fragility of the associated light readout device, typically a vacuum photomultiplier tube (PMT). Recently developed silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) offer gains and efficiencies similar to those of PMTs, but with greatly reduced mass and volume, high ruggedness, and no …

Revision Of Empirical Electric Field Modeling In The Inner Magnetosphere Using Cluster Data, Hiroshi Matsui, Harlan E. Spence, Y. V. Khotyaintsev, P. A. Lindqvist

Physics & Astronomy

Using Cluster data from the Electron Drift (EDI) and the Electric Field and Wave (EFW) instruments, we revise our empirically-based, inner-magnetospheric electric field (UNH-IMEF) model at 22.662 mV/m; K-p<1, 1K(p)<2, 2K(p)<3, 3K(p)<4, 4K(p)<5, and K(p)4(+). Patterns consist of one set of data and processing for smaller activities, and another for higher activities. As activity increases, the skewed potential contour related to the partial ring current appears on the nightside. With the revised analysis, we find that the skewed potential contours get clearer and potential contours get denser on the nightside and morningside. Since the fluctuating components are not negligible, standard deviations from the modeled values are included in the model. In this study, we perform validation of the derived model more extensively. We find experimentally that the skewed contours are located close to the last closed equipotential, consistent with previous theories. This gives physical context to our model and serves as one validation effort. As another validation effort, the derived results are compared with other models/measurements. From these comparisons, we conclude that our model has some clear advantages over the others.