Research Experience

Research Experience

Simulation of Electron and Ion Acceleration During Magnetic Reconnection

2020 – present

  • Advisor: Dr. James F. Drake, Dr. Michael M. Swisdak
  • Enhancement of kglobal Model:
  • Collaborated on the development of an advanced “kglobal” computational model to include both electron and ion acceleration during magnetic reconnection events at macroscale levels. This enhancement offered a significant improvement over traditional Particle-In-Cell (PIC) simulations.
  • Utilized Fortran for algorithmic development, focusing on capturing the complex dynamics of magnetic reconnection, particularly in solar flare phenomena.
  • Model Application and Validation: 
  • Deployed the enhanced kglobal model to study a specific reconnection event observed by the Parker Solar Probe (PSP) in the Heliospheric Current Sheet (HCS).
  • Validated the model’s efficacy and underlying theories by confirming that the energy spectra generated were in line with observational data.

Building Mid-Frequency Detector for Gravitational Waves    

2020

  • Advisor: Dr. Peter S. Shawhan
  • Heatswitch Development:
  • Designed and tested heatswitches for use in ultra-low temperature and superconducting environments and achieved a yield rate of over 90% during performance tests conducted in liquid helium.
  • Multiphysics Simulation:
  • Utilized Multiphysics software to model the behavior of test masses within a gravity gradiometer. Explored different geometries of pancake coils to generate magnetic forces. 
  • Conducted a comprehensive analysis of the relationship between the test mass movement and coil geometries, utilizing Matlab for data analysis.

Calorimeter Performance Monitoring for NASA’s ISS-CREAM Mission    

2018 – 2019

  • Advisor: Dr. Eun-Suk Seo
  • Performance Evaluation: 
  • Conducted a comprehensive analysis of the calorimeter used in the NASA ISS-CREAM mission detector. 
  • Monitored high-voltage and current readings within the calorimeter to assess operational stability.
  • Configuration Verification: 
  • Ensured the detector’s structure aligned with ground documentation specifications to maintain data integrity and system reliability.

Linearity Measurements of Photomultiplier Tubes for NASA’s ISS-CREAM Mission    

2014 – 2016

  • Advisor: Dr. Stéphane Coutu
  • Linearity Response Analysis: 
  • Conducted experiments to measure the linearity response range of photomultiplier tubes as a function of incident light intensity. 
  • Utilized a range of equipment including neutral density filters, LEDs, and oscilloscopes.
  • Data Analysis Software Development: 
  • Created a specialized program using C++ and the CERN ROOT analysis package to analyze the collected experimental data.