Science Activities Here is a brief summary of the research done by faculty members. Click on a name to see the research profile of that person, or simply scroll down the page to see all profiles in alphabetical order. | | | Sebastien Besse Post-doctoral fellow sbesse@rssd.esa.int Tel: +31 71 565 3677 | | Main research field I am interested in the formation and evolution of the Solar System. As a geologist/spectroscopist, I am interested in surfaces of planets, comets and asteroids, but I also study the volatiles of comets with my expertise in VIS/NIR spectroscopy. I have divided my research in two directions: 1- Differentiated bodies like the Moon and Mercury to understand the thermal evolution of these bodies through their volcanic history, 2- Small bodies like comets and asteroids because they are more pristine than big planets and can constrain the origin of the Solar System. Keywords - Planetary surfaces
- Asteroids, comets
- VIS/NIR spectroscopy
- Photometry
- Mineralogy, volatiles
- Geomorphology
Ongoing collaborations - J. Sunshine, M. A'Hearn, L. Feaga (University of Maryland, USA)
- P. Lamy, L. Jorda, O. Groussin (Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille, France)
- M. Staid, J-Y. Li (Planetary Science Institute, USA)
- M. Ohtake, J. Haruyama (JAXA, Japan)
- F. Merlin, A. Barucci, C. Leyrat, S. Fornasier (LESIA, Paris, France)
- P. Pinet, D. Baratoux (IRAP, Toulouse)
- J-B. Vincent (Max Planck Institue, Germany)
- M. Kueppers, R. Moissl (ESAC, Spain)
Personal home page Publications Project/mission at ESA Rosetta/OSIRIS (Associate Scientist), Bepi-Colombo ESA Research supervisor Johannes Benkhoff TOP OF PAGE | | | | Stephan Birkmann Astronomer  sbirkmann@rssd.esa.int Tel: +31 71 565 8598 | | Main research field Studying the initial conditions of massive star formation by multi-wavelength observations. Searching for light echoes from ancient supernovae and determining their spectral type. Characterization of infrared detectors. Keywords - Star formaion
- Light echoes from supernovae
- IR detector characterisation
Ongoing collaborations - Oliver Krause (MPIA)
- Thomas Henning (MPIA)
Publications Project/mission at ESA JWST TOP OF PAGE | | | | Torsten Boeker Astronomer  tboeker@rssd.esa.int Tel: +31 71 565 8272 | | Main research field Extragalactic astronomy at optical and infrared wavelengths, in particular the nuclear regions of spiral galaxies. Current science activities - nuclear star clusters, their formation mechanisms, and their effect on host galaxy evolution
- molecular gas in galaxy centers, especially high-resolution CO observations
- near-infrared integral-field studies of circumnuclear starburst rings
- dust structures in spiral galaxies
- mid-infrared observations of AGN/starburst nuclei
Ongoing collaborations - MPIA Heidelberg (Rix, Schinnerer)
- STScI (van der Marel)
- IAC (Knapen
- Ohio (Martini)
Personal home page Publications Project/mission at ESA JWST (deputy project scientist) TOP OF PAGE | | | | Stefania Carpano Astronomer  scarpano@rssd.esa.int Tel: +31 71 565 4827 | | Main research field My main scientific interests include X-ray astronomy using XMM-Newton data, focusing on X-ray sources from nearby normal galaxies and in particular from NGC 300 and its brightest source NGC 300 X-1. I am also active in the search for extrasolar planets, using the transit method, through the analysis of data from the CoRoT satellite. Keywords - X-ray binaries, X-ray population of nearby galaxies
- Wolf-Rayet/black-holes X-ray binaries
- extrasolar planets, the transit method, CoRoT data
Ongoing collaborations - A. Nucita (ESAC)
- A. Pollock (ESAC)
- P. Crowther (Univ of Sheffield, UK)
- M. Fridlund (ESTEC)
- H. Deeg (IAC, Spain)
Publications Project/mission at ESA XMM, CoRoT, JWST TOP OF PAGE | | | | Jos de Bruijne Astronomer  jdbruijn@rssd.esa.int Tel: +31 71 565 5989 | | Main research field I am interested in dynamical modeling of galaxies, in young stellar groups (dynamics, structure, radial velocities, astrometry, runaway stars), in the prospects of astrometry from space, and in high-time-resolution energy-resolved photon-counting observations in the optical using Superconducting Tunnel Junction (STJ) detectors. Keywords - Dynamical modeling of galaxies
- Hyades, OB associations, Gould Belt, runaway OB stars
- Hipparcos, Gaia, space astrometry
- High-time-resolution energy-resolved photon-counting optical astronomy
Publications Project/mission at ESA Gaia (deputy project scientist) TOP OF PAGE | | | | Guido De Marchi Astronomer  gdemarchi@rssd.esa.int Tel: +31 71 565 8332 | | Main research field My main scientific interests include star formation, the study of resolved stellar populations, the structure of star clusters and their dynamical evolution. I make extensive use of the HST and the VLT in my research and work with data from the UV to the near IR. Current science activities - star formation in the Milky Way and Magellanic clouds
- the properties of pre-main sequence stars and their accretion process
- the stellar initial mass function in star clusters, young and old
- the dynamical evolution and tidal disruption of globular clusters
- the distribution and properties of gas and dust in nearby galaxies
Ongoing collaborations - www.starformation.eu
- ESO (Giacomo Beccari, Martino Romaniello, Loredana Spezzi)
- Bonn (Pavel Kroupa, Holger Baumgardt)
- INAF (Francesco Paresce, Luigi Pulone)
- STScI (Nino Panagia, Elena Sabbi)
- ESA (Morten Andersen, Nicola Da Rio, Nathan Leigh)
Personal home page Publications Project/mission at ESA JWST, HST TOP OF PAGE | | | | Bernhard Fleck Solar Physicist  Bernhard.Fleck@esa.int Tel: +1 301 286 4098 | | Main research field My main functional role at ESA is Mission Manager/Project Scientist for SOHO. I am also ESA Project Scientist for Hinode. My scientific interests include the dynamics of the solar atmosphere, in particular wave propagation characteristics in the chromosphere. I work with data from SOHO, TRACE, Hinode, and ground-based observatories. Domain of activity - Chromoseismology
- Chromospheric heating
- Helioinformatics
Ongoing collaborations - SwRI Boulder, CO, USA
- HAO Boulder, CO, USA
- Univ. of Hawaii, HI, USA
- LMSAL, Palo Alto, CA, USA
- OAC Napoli, Italy
- Osservatorio di Arcetri, Florence, Italy
- Univ. of Wuerzburg, Germany
Publications Project/mission at ESA SOHO, Hinode TOP OF PAGE | | | | Catherine Fischer Post-doctoral fellow cfischer@rssd.esa.int Tel: +31 71 565 8383 | | Main research field II study magnetic fields on the sun and aim to contribute in answering the following questions: What causes the formation of sunspots, the triggering of solar flares and coronal mass ejections? What is the distribution of the small-scale magnetic field on the solar surface and what defines its origin, emergence, evolution and disappearance? What are the relevant physical mechanisms governing the dynamics of the magnetized gas? For my work I use polarimetric data and filtergrams from ground based instruments such as SOLIS (Synoptic Optical Long-term Investigations of the Sun) as well as from satellites dedicated to solar physics such as the HINODE observatory. I specialize in the technique of Stokes Inversion to infer the magnetic field vector and also use results of realistic MHD codes to compare to observations and find out more about the underlying fundamental physics of the observed phenomena. Keywords - Polarimetry
- Strokes inversion
- Solar magnetic field
Ongoing collaborations - Frans Snik, Christoph Keller, Universiteit Leiden, The Netherlands
- Lyndsay Fletcher, University of Glasgow, UK
- Alfred de Wijn, High Altitude Observatory, USA
- Hector Socas-Navarro, Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias, Spain
Publications Project/mission at ESA None ESA Research supervisor Daniel Müller TOP OF PAGE | | | | | Davide Gandolfi Post-doctoral fellow  dgandolf@rssd.esa.int Tel: +31 71 565 5343 | | Main research field My main scientific interests include the search and study of transiting extrasolar planets within the context of the CoRoT space mission. I am involved in the spectroscopic follow-ups of the planet-hosting star candidates detected by CoRoT, in order to confirm the planetary nature of the transiting objects, derive the orbital parameters, and finally determine the physical properties of the star-planet system. Combining the CoRoT photometric database with spectroscopy, I study: the stellar population in the CoRoT fields; differential rotation in active low-mass stars; eclipsing binaries with pulsating components or very low-mass stars. I also study the star formation process in small cometary clouds and in the immediate surroundings of isolated Herbig Ae/Be stars. Keywords - Transiting extrasolar planets
- CoRoT photometry
- Spectroscopy
- Radial velocity
- Stellar population
- Low-mass stars
- Eclipsing binaries
- Star formation
Ongoing collaborations - Malcolm Fridlund, Stefania Carpano, Phillippe Gondoin (ESA-ESTEC)
- Artie Hatzes, Eike Guenther (TLS Tautenburg)
- Magali Deluil, Jean-Christophe Gazzano (LAM Marseille)
- Heike Rauer, Juan Cabrera, Szilard Csizmadia, Anders Erikson (DLR Berlin)
- Hans Deeg (IAC Tenerife)
- Carla Maceroni (INAF-OA Roma)
- Antonio Frasca, Ettore Marilli, Antonino Lanza, Cilia Damiani (INAF-OA Catania)
- Juan Alcalá, Elvira Covino, Vincenzo Ripepi, Felice Cusano (INAF-OA Capodimonte)
- Petr Kabath (ESO Santiago)
Publications Project/mission at ESA None ESA Research supervisor Malcolm Fridlund TOP OF PAGE | | | | | Antonio Garcia Muñoz Post-doctoral fellow  agarcia@rssd.esa.int Tel: +31 71 565 5343 | | Main research field My research focuses on planetary atmospheres, including topics as diverse as photochemistry, airglow, atmospheric escape, radiative transport, spectroscopy and polarization. I consider myself a theorist/modeler, but I am keen to apply my knowledge and tools in the design/interpretation of observations. Planets of the Solar System I have worked with include Earth, Mars, Venus, and Jupiter. Since 1995, it has become evident that the possibilities of planet types are vast and, so, I am very interested in the emerging field of exoplanetary atmospheres. My graduate work on the evaporation of HD 209458b is still used in the investigation of hot Jupiters and other exoplanets under strong irradiation conditions. Keywords - Nightglow in the Venus atmosphere
- Lightning in the Solar System
- Full-disk photometric/polarization lightcurves of (exo)planets
- The Venus transit, lightcurves and spectroscopy
- Spectroscopy of transiting exoplanets
- Temperature retrieval from thermal IR spectra
Ongoing collaborations - Grupo de Ciencias Planetarias (Agustin Sanchez-Lavega, Ricardo Hueso, Santiago Perez Hoyos)
- Australian National University (Frank Mills)
Publications Project/mission at ESA None ESA Research supervisor Dmitri Titov TOP OF PAGE | | | | Iskren Georgiev Post-doctoral fellow  igeorgie@rssd.esa.int Tel: +31 71 565 3746 | | Main research field My research focuses on studying the properties of compact stellar systems, i.e. globular clusters, galaxies' nuclei , ultra compact dwarf galaxies, using space and ground based imaging and spectroscopy (from optical to NIR wavelengths). Such stellar systems form at the peak epoch(s) of star formation in a galaxy. Therefore, a firm knowledge of, e.g. their age, metallicity, structural parameters, spatial distributions, provides a robust tool to reconstruct host galaxy formation history (mergers, tidal interactions). Keywords - Globular clusters
- Nuclear clusters
- Globular cluster horizontal branch morphology
- Ultra compact dwarf galaxies
- Interacting and massive merger remnant galaxies
- Optical-NIR imaging and spectroscopy
Ongoing collaborations - AIfA Bonn (Andreas Kuepper, Marcel Pawlowski, Pavel Kroupa)
- ESA (Torsten Boeker)
- ESO (Michael Hilker, Steffen Mieske)
- INAF Padova (Luigi Bedin)
- PUC de Chile (Thomas Puzia)
- STScI (Paul Goudfrooij, Andrea Bellini)
- UNAM (Rosa Gonzales)
- University of Queensland (Holger Baumgardt)
Personal home page Publications Project/mission at ESA None ESA Research supervisor Torsten Boeker TOP OF PAGE | | | | | Giovanna Giardino Astronomer  ggiardino@rssd.esa.int Tel: +31 71 565 4625 | | Main research field My scientific interest is star formation and I have currently two main research activities: i) within the context of the Planck mission, prepare for the use of HFI and LFI data to derive a census of ultra-compact HII regions and massive young stellar objects in the mm and submm; ii) Using XMM and Chandra data, study the X-ray emission of YSOs, investigating the influence of X-ray emission on the circumstellar environment. So far, I have analysed X-ray data for L1551 in Tau, Serpens, S106 and Rho-Oph. Publications Project/mission at ESA JWST TOP OF PAGE | | | | | Aurelie Guilbert-Lepoutre Post-doctoral fellow  aguilber@rssd.esa.int Tel: +31 71 565 4044 | | Main research field My research is focused on small bodies in the solar system, like Kuiper Belt objects, Centaurs, comets, Trojans, or asteroids. They are believed to be the remnants of planet formation. Strategically, understanding the origin and evolution of these objects is a key step towards explaining the processes at work during the formation and evolution of the solar system. At this point, we still don't know which observed physical and orbital characteristics of the small bodies, after 4.5 Gyr of physico-dynamical evolution in a time-varying radiative and collisional environment, will ultimately provide the best clues to their origin. The problem is tractable though, and can be addressed in suitable steps. Dynamical studies have highlighted possible links between small body populations, yet there is no compelling evidence that the solar system evolved according to any of the current scenarii because there are still many things we don't understand about the physical connections between these small body populations. Part of my work aims at constraining some of their physical properties, in particular the surface composition, through visible and near-infrared spectroscopy performed on the world's largest telescopes. I am particularly interested in the volatile and organic content of KBOs, Centaurs, Trojans, comets and asteroids, and the similarities/differences between these populations. The other aspect of my work is related to the thermal history of icy objects. I try to understand with numerical simulations how ice can survive on some objects, how the composition and other physical properties can evolve with time, why/how some objects display comet-like activity, etc. Keywords - solar system formation
- small bodies, comets, asteroids, KBOs
- surface composition, volatiles, ices
- cometary activity, cryovolcanism
- thermal evolution modelling
- physical link between populations, evolution
Ongoing collaborations - Audrey Delsanti - Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille
- Michal Drahus - Caltech
- David Jewitt - UCLA, IPlEx
- Detlef Koschny - European Space Agency - ESTEC
- Olivier Mousis - Institut UTINAM
- Nuno Peixinho - University of Coimbra
- Pierre Vernazza - European Southern Observatory
Personal home page Publications Project/mission at ESA None ESA Research supervisor Detlef Koschny TOP OF PAGE | | | | | Conny Hansson Post-doctoral fellow  conny.hansson@esa.int Tel: +31 71 565 5047 | | Main research field My main research interest is in the development of detectors and detector media for spectroscopic X-ray, γ-ray and neutron instrumentation. This include development and investigations of compound semiconductors (i.e. CdZnTe, CdTe, TlBr, HgI2, B etc.); scintillators (CsI2, Lanthanum Halides); single carrier sensing techniques, ASIC designs; as well as theoretical investigation into material properties effecting the detector response. Keywords - instrumentation
- detector development
- compound semiconductors
- scintillators
- single carrier sensing
Publications Project/mission at ESA None ESA Research supervisor Richard Marsden TOP OF PAGE | | | | | Detlef Koschny Planetary Scientist  dkoschny@rssd.esa.int Tel: +31 71 565 4828 | | Main research field My main scientific interest is cosmic dust and minor bodies in the solar system, in particular asteroids. I am focussing on the analysis of observational data. Current science activities - ground-based observations of meteors using image-intensified video systems
- set up meteor observations from space, e.g. from the International Space Station
- set up a centralised database for meteor orbit data
- follow-up observations of asteroids
- modelling dust and regolith size distributions
- working on the calibration of images obtained with the Smart-1 camera AMIE
- testing cameras for ground- and space-based applications
Ongoing collaborations - involved in EuroPlanet N3 activities for the coordination, working with Jurgen Oberst, DLR Berlin, Apostolos Christou, Armagh, Ireland
- meteor orbit determination and ablation modelling together with Peter Brown and Margaret Campbell-Brown, Univ. of Ontario, Canada, and with Felix Bettonvil, Astronomical Institute of the Univ. Utrecht
- AMIE data calibration together with the Smart-1 AMIE team
Publications Project/mission at ESA Marco Polo, Rosetta, BepiColombo, Smart-1 TOP OF PAGE | | | | Ágnes Kóspál Post-doctoral fellow  akospal@rssd.esa.int Tel: +31 71 565 4508 | | Main research field My main research topic is star and planet formation, specifically the structure and evolution of circumstellar disks around young stars. I focus much of my work on young eruptive stars (FUors and EXors). These are pre-main sequence objects with temporarily increased accretion rate resulting in powerful brightenings in the whole optical-infrared regime. My goal is to understand the physics behind the accretion process and the effect of the increased heating on the disk. I am also interested in variability of young stellar objects in general at various wavelengths from the optical to the millimeter, and what it can tell us about disk structure. Part of my work focuses on debris disks, and the relationship of debris dust and planet formation. I am experienced in several observational techniques from imaging and spectroscopy through polarimetry to interferometry. Keywords - primordial and debris disks
- accretion process during star formation
- eruptive phenomenon during pre-main sequence
- optical, infrared, and millimeter observations
Ongoing collaborations - Timo Prusti, Elaine Winston (ESA/ESTEC)
- Peter abraham, Attila Moor, Maria Kun, Csaba Kiss (Konkoly Observatory, Budapest)
- Jose Acosta (IAC Tenerife)
- Daniel Apai, Ilaira Pascucci (University of Arizona, Tucson)
- Timea Csengeri (MPIfR Bonn)
- Carol Grady (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)
- Joel Green (University of Texas at Austin)
- Thomas Henning, Miwa Goto, Zoltan Balog (MPIA Heidelberg)
- Attila Juhász (Leiden Observatory)
- Aurora Sicilia-Aguilar (Universidad Autonoma de Madrid)
- Nikoletta Sipos (Institut fuer Astrophysik, Goettingen)
- Roland Vavrek, David Ardila (ESA/ESAC)
Publications Project/mission at ESA None ESA Research supervisor Timo Prusti TOP OF PAGE | | | | Nathan Leigh Post-doctoral fellow  nleigh@rssd.esa.int Tel: +31 71 565 4574 | | Main research field The majority of my research concerns the development of theoretical and statistical techniques broadly related to gravity. In particular, I study the various ways stars interact with each other in dense stellar environments. I often apply these methods to observations of dense star clusters, where the stellar densities can become so high that direct collisions can even occur between stars. Keywords - gravity
- stellar dynamics
- star clusters
- star formation
Publications Project/mission at ESA None ESA Research supervisor Torsten Boker TOP OF PAGE | | | | | Richard Marsden Heliophysicist rmarsden@rssd.esa.int Tel: +31 71 565 3583 | | Main research field My main functional role at ESTEC is Mission Manager/Project Scientist for Ulysses. I am also Study Scientist for Solar Orbiter. My scientific interests are related to the heliosphere and heliophysics in general and include: energetic particle acceleration and propagation, anomalous cosmic ray studies (in particular, latitudinal gradients). I work primarily (but not exclusively) with data from the COSPIN Low Energy Telescope instrument on Ulysses, which I helped to design. Current science activities - Investigating the origin and transport of solar and interplanetary energetic particles in the 3-D heliosphere
- Using composition measurements to investigate the origin of particles accelerated in transient and recurrent solar wind flows
- Investigating the effect of the Sun's magnetic cycle on the transport of anomalous cosmic rays
Publications Project/mission at ESA Ulysses, Solar Orbiter TOP OF PAGE | | | | | Paul Mc Namara Astrophysicist pmcnamar@rssd.esa.int Tel: +31 71 565 8239 | | Current science activities - Low frequency gravitational wave detection
- Laser frequency/phase stabilisation
- Precision interferometry
Project/mission at ESA LISA Pathfinder (Project scientist), LISA (Deputy Project Scientist) TOP OF PAGE | | | | | Sara Mazrouei Planetary Scientist smazroue@rssd.esa.int Tel: +31715653866 | | Main research field My main scientific interests are in the planetary geology and remote sensing field. I am interested in understanding the evolution of planetary objects, in particular small bodies and the Moon, through their surface properties. Currently at ESTEC, I am working on the calibration of the radio science data from Venus Express. Current science activities - Planetary geologie
- Remote sensing
- Radio science
Ongoing collaborations - O. Barnouin, C. Ernst (APL-Johns Hopkins University, USA)
- M. Daly (CRESS - York University, Canada)
Publications ESA Research supervisor Hakan Svedhem TOP OF PAGE | | | | | Daniel Müller Solar Physicist daniel.mueller@esa.int Tel: +1 301 286 6983 | | Main research field My main functional role at ESA is Deputy Project Scientist for SOHO, the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory. I am also Deputy Study Scientist for Solar Orbiter. My scientific interests include the structure and dynamics of the solar corona and photosphere. I use and develop magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) models to study dynamic phenomena in the solar atmosphere. I am also leading a project to develop advanced techniques for data assimilation, visualisation, and browsing. Current science activities - MHD models of coronal mass ejections and jets
- Solar spectropolarimetry (radiative transfer calculations and data analysis)
- Helioinformatics (development of advanced techniques for data assimilation, visualisation, and browsing)
Ongoing collaborations - Naval Research Laboratory (Washington, DC, USA)
- Goddard Space Flight Center (Greenbelt, MD, USA)
- Kiepenheuer Institute for Solar Physics (Freiburg, Germany)
- Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Oslo (Norway)
- High Altitude Observatory (Boulder, CO, USA)
Personal home page Publications Project/mission at ESA SOHO, Solar Orbiter TOP OF PAGE | | | | | Andrea Opitz Post-doctoral fellow  aopitz@rssd.esa.int Tel: +31 71 565 3935 | | Main research field My main scientific interest is solar wind and its interaction with planets. I study the temporal and spatial evolution of solar wind structures using multi-spacecraft data (STEREO, Venus Express, Mars Express, etc). Their effects on the planetary plasma environments is my key focus now. Keywords - Terrestrial magnetotail in STEREO view
- Spatial and temporal evolution of the solar wind by STEREO
- Solar wind structures affecting the terrestrial planets
- Solar input at Venus and Mars
- Solar cycle dependence of the planetary upper atmospheres
Publications ESA Research supervisor Olivier Witasse TOP OF PAGE | | | | Timo Prusti Astronomer  tprusti@rssd.esa.int Tel: +31 71 565 4794 | | Main research field My main scientific work is concerning star formation. At the moment the focus is on aspects which can be addressed with the Herschel data: disks around young stars, circumstellar matter and far-infrared variability. I am gradually moving toward topics which will benefit from the Gaia data of young stellar clusters: membership, dynamics and initial luminosity or mass function. The binding element between Herschel and Gaia studies is concentration on close by targets in the Gould Belt system. Publications Project/mission at ESA Gaia TOP OF PAGE | | | | | Matt Taylor Space Plasma Physicist mtaylor@rssd.esa.int Tel: +31 71 565 8009 | | Main research field My position at ESTEC is deputy project scientist of Cluster and Double Star. My main scientific interests are focused on the Earth's magnetosphere and include: magnetotail dynamics, magnetospheric boundary layers, reconnection and data - simulation synergy. I work primarily (but not exclusively) with the Cluster and Double Star data, and I have developed a particular (peculiar) fascination with electrons. Current science activities - Investigating the formation and persistence of the Earths plasma sheet
- Examining the evolution and dynamics of electron distributions around magnetic reconnection regions
- Preliminary dabbling in large scale data surveying (> years of data) and comparisons with plasma simulations and theory
- In a previous life is was also involved in examining radiation belt particle sources and losses and hope to get back into that area at some point
Ongoing collaborations - Mullard Space Science Lab, UK (A.N. Fazakerley, Y. Bogdanova)
- Leicester University, UK (R. Fear , A. Grocott)
- Rutherford Appleton Lab, UK (M.W. Dunlop, C.H. Perry and J. Davies)
- Lancaster University, UK (M. Denton)
- Los Alamos National Lab, (B. Lavraud, R. Friedel, G. Reeves)
- SSL, Berkley, UC, USA, (J. Eastwood)
- AI/IAP, ASCR, Czech Republic (P. Travnicek)
Project/mission at ESA Cluster, Double Star TOP OF PAGE | | | | | Andrew Walsh Post-doctoral fellow awalsh@rssd.esa.int Tel: +31 71 565 3872 | | Main research field My research focuses on the the structure and dynamics of the terrestrial magnetotail, particularly the properties of and asymmetries in the particle distributions in the magnetotail plasma sheet. Examining these distributions allows us to understand how mass and energy enter the magnetosphere from the solar wind and ionosphere, which particle acceleration processes are the most effective in the magnetotail and ultimately how the seed population for the ring current and radiation belts is formed. I am also working on how the particle acceleration that happens in the magnetotail and closer to the Earth results in the bright visible aurora. I use data from ESA's Cluster and Double Star missions in my research. Current science activities - Magnetosphere
- Magnetotail
- Plasma Sheet
- Aurora
- Dawn-Dusk Asymmetry
- Particle Accelaration
Ongoing collaborations - M.G.G.T. Taylor; ESTEC
- C. Forsyth, A. N. Fazakerley, C. J. Owen; Mullard Space Science Laboratory, UCL, UK
- A. Masters; ISAS/JAXA, Japan
- K. R. Murphy, I. J. Rae, I. R. Mann, C. E. J. Watt; University of Alberta, Canada
- Dawn-Dusk Asymmetries Team, International Space Science Institute, Switzerland
Publications Project/mission at ESA None ESA Research supervisor Matt Taylor TOP OF PAGE | | | | Christoph Winkler Astronomer cwinkler@rssd.esa.int Tel: +31 71 565 3591 | | Main research field My scientific interest is observational gamma-ray astronomy in the keV to MeV energy range. It covers in particular: nucleosynthesis, gamma-ray line astrophysics, gamma-ray bursts and soft gamma repeaters, neutron stars and black hole candidates. Data are from Compton GRO and INTEGRAL. Current science activities - Very limited due to project priorities, but if time permits:
- 511 keV annihilation from the inner Galaxy
- Mapping of line emission from radioactive 26Al and 60Fe
- Transient compact objects
Ongoing collaborations - MPE Garching (Roland Diehl)
- CESR Toulouse (Juergen Knoedlseder, Georg Weidenspointner)
- IASF Rome (Angela Bazzano)
Publications Project/mission at ESA INTEGRAL TOP OF PAGE | | | | | Olivier Witasse Planetary Scientist owitasse@rssd.esa.int Tel: +31 71 565 8015 | | Main research field I am currently interested in the analysis and interpretation of the Mars Express SPICAM (UV spectrometer) data. The idea is to understand how the airglow and auroral emissions of the upper atmosphere of Mars are generated. I am also studying how the meteoroid deposition in the Martian atmosphere influences the ionosphere. Current science activities - Study of planetary upper atmospheres
- Focus on: ionosphere, airglow and aurorae
- Bodies of interest: Venus, Earth, Mars and Titan
Ongoing collaborations - Laboratoire de Planetologie de Grenoble (France)
- Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste (Italy)
- Laboratoire LPCE, Orleans (France)
- SRI, Menlo Park (USA)
Publications Project/mission at ESA Chandrayaan-1, Venus Express TOP OF PAGE | | | | | Former Research Fellows of RSSD and year of departure At least for the past 10 years !! | | Astronomy/Astrophysics - Davide Gandolfi, 2012
- Morten Andersen, 2012
- Elaine Winston, 2012
- Silvia Vicente, 2011
- Loredana Spezzi, 2011
- Maria Messineo, 2010
- Jakob Walcher, 2010
- Giacomo Beccari, 2010
- Jens Rodman, 2008
- Jimmy Paillet, 2008
- Bruno Martin Merin, 2008
- Jesus Falcon Barroso, 2008
- Claudia Isola, 2007
- Solan Balman, 2007
- David Thi, 2007
- Christiane Helling, 2006
Planetary Science - Damien Loizeau, 2012
- Arianna Piccialli, 2012
- Jan Soucek, 2012
- Ruth Ziethe, 2011
- Rosario Brunetto, 2010
- Sandra Schumacher, 2010
- Jessica Agarwal, 2010
- Maria Gritsevich, 2010
- Fabrice Cipriani, 2010
- Pierre Vernazza, 2010
- Cyril Simon, 2008
- Nicolas André, 2008
- Jonathon McCauliffe, 2008
- Tra-Mi Ho, 2008
- Angelo Rossi, 2008
Solar/Terrestrial Science - Catherine Fischer, 2012
- Angels Aran, 2012
- Bartolomeo Vitticchie, 2012
- Kavita Sharma, 2011
- Annette Borg, 2011
- Benjamin Grison, 2009
- Alexandr Afanasiev, 2010
- Arne Asnes, 2008
- Claire Vallet, 2007
- Olga Malandraki, 2007
Instrumentation TOP OF PAGE | |