Heliophysics Science: High-Energy Aspects of Solar Flares

About the role

The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) offers unique research opportunities to highly-talented scientists to engage in ongoing NASA research projects at a NASA Center, NASA Headquarters, or at a NASA-affiliated research institute. These one- to three-year fellowships are competitive and are designed to advance NASA’s missions in space science, Earth science, aeronautics, space operations, exploration systems, and astrobiology.

Description

The acceleration of charged particles to high energies and their confinement, transport, and subsequent energy losses are among the fundamental processes of solar flares. We investigate these processes through observations of X-rays and gamma rays and through theoretical modeling.

• Most recent observational effort: Reuven Ramaty High-Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI)
• Data sets from Solar Maximum Mission, Compton Gamma Ray Observatory, Japanese Yohkoh spacecraft, and Fermi astrophysics mission
• Comprehensive array of observational data available on-line at the Solar Data Analysis Center in Goddard's Solar Physics Branch
• Integrated package of modular numeric codes and models for the analysis and interpretation of data
• Focus on energetic electrons produced during the impulsive phase of flares
• Computes bremsstrahlung X-ray/gamma-ray emission and gyrosynchrotron radio emission from model flare configurations and initial electron distributions
• Steady-state and time-dependent Fokker-Planck codes for the transport of suprathermal electrons
• Hydrodynamic code for the response of the flare plasma in model configurations
• Predicted emissions can be compared with x-ray/gamma-ray and radio images and spectra
• Proposed computational package allows for comprehensive modeling of energized electrons in different flare scenarios
• Instrument development, data analysis, and theoretical modeling

Requirements

• Doctoral Degree

Qualifications

• Solar physics background is an advantage but not required

Benefits

• One- to three-year fellowship
• Opportunities to engage in ongoing NASA research projects
• Competitive program designed to advance NASA’s missions

Pay

N/A

Schedule

N/A

Location

Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland

Field of Science

Heliophysics Science

Advisors

• Steven Christe
  steven.d.christe@nasa.gov
  301-286-7999
• Albert Y. Shih
  albert.y.shih@nasa.gov
  301-286-1843

Application Instructions

Please visit the NASA Postdoctoral Program website for application instructions and requirements: How to Apply | NASA Postdoctoral Program

Contact

Questions about this opportunity? Please email npp@orau.org

Eligibility

• U.S. Citizens
• U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR)
• Foreign Nationals eligible for an Exchange Visitor J-1 visa status
• Applicants for LPR, asylees, or refugees in the U.S. at the time of application with 1) a valid EAD card and 2) I-485 or I-589 forms in pending status