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Scholarly Interest Report
         
Frank R. Toffoletto
Professor
Professor of Physics and Astronomy
 
e-mail:toffo@rice.edu
 
  • B.Sc. (First Class Honours) (1981) La Trobe University
  • Ph.D. (1987) Rice University
 
Primary Department
   Department of Physics and Astronomy
Picture
 
Department Affiliations
 
  • Ken Kennedy Institute for Information Technology
  • Rice Space Institute
  •  
    Member of the American Geophysical Union
     
     
    Websites
     Frank Toffoletto's Website
     
    Research Areas
     Magnetospheric Physics, Computational Space Plasma Physics
     

    Numerical Space Plasma Physics

     

    Frank Toffoletto’s research has focused on the development and use of computational models of the global-scale plasma physics of Earth’s magnetosphere. Computational modeling has become a major research tool in many branches of physics, most notably when it is used to enhance understanding of complex nonlinear systems. This is especially true for space plasma physics, where numerical modeling has become the research tool of choice for understanding a diverse set of physical problems related to space plasmas that are carefully vetted against in situ measurements. The tools and the insight that comes from developing and applying these computational models for Earth will likely play an important role in furthering our understanding of plasma environments throughout universe.


    At Rice, a major research focus has long been the development and use of computational models of Earth’s magnetosphere, with the primary tool for this work being the Rice Convection Model (RCM), developed over many years by Professor Richard Wolf and collaborators. The RCM describes the physical interaction of particles and fields in the inner and middle magnetosphere, that portion of Earth's environment controlled by Earth’s magnetic field extending to about 60,000 kilometers above the surface. In order to represent the physics of this region in a fully self-consistent fashion, the effects of the magnetospheric plasma on the magnetic field must also be included. To this end, we have developed a plasma equilibrium model (the RCM-Equilibrium, or RCM-E) that computes a self-consistent magnetic field in response to the plasma pressure specified by the RCM.  The RCM-E is a powerful tool that for the first time allows us to solve a complete set of self-consistent equations that describe the large-scale structure of the inner magnetosphere.  With this computational tool in hand we are now ideally positioned to address fundamental questions about the plasma physics of the near-Earth environment, especially in relation to storms and substorms, which are large-scale disruptions of Earth’s coupled magnetosphere/ionosphere system that result in a significant amount of energy transfer and dissipation and that have important space weather implications. 


    The multi-faceted approach of using computational techniques to understand the physics of the space environment has and will continue to yield exciting new insights. Our group at Rice is well situated to exploit new opportunities, our initial coupled models are proving to be important tools for understanding and representing physical processes in Earth’s magnetosphere; in the long term, as the models become increasingly sophisticated, we expect to obtain more and more insight into the chain of physical processes driving the complex Sun-Earth space environment.


     

     
    Teaching Areas
     Physics, Astronomy, Space Physics, and Computational Physics
     
    Selected Publications
     Refereed articles
     

    Claudepierre, S. G., F. R. Toffoletto, and M. Wiltberger "Global MHD modeling of resonant ULF waves: Simulations with and without a plasmasphere." J. Geophys. Res., 120 (2015)

     
     

    Yang, J., F. R. Toffoletto, R. A. Wolf, and S. Sazykin "Comparison study of ring current simulations with and without bubble injections." J. Geophys. Res. (2015) In Press

     
     

    Yang, J., F. R. Toffoletto, R. A. Wolf, and S. Sazykin "On the Contribution of Plasma Sheet Bubbles to the Storm-Time Ring Current."  J. Geophys. Res., 120 (2015)

     
     

    Du, D., Toffoletto, F., and Biswal, S. L. "Numerical calculation of interaction forces between paramagnetic colloids in two-dimensional systems." Physical Review E, 89 (2014) : 043306.

     
     

    Hudson, M. K., D. N. Baker, J. Goldstein, B. T. Kress, J. Paral, F. R. Toffoletto, and M. Wiltberger "Simulated magnetopause losses and Van Allen Probe flux dropouts." Geophysical Research Letters, 41: 1113-1118.

     
     

    Yang, J., F. R. Toffoletto, G. Lu and M. Wiltberger "RCM-E and AMIE studies of the Harang Reversal formation during a Steady Magnetospheric Convection event." Journal of Geophyical. Research, 119: 7228–7242.

     
     

    Yang, J., F. R. Toffoletto, and R. A. Wolf "RCM-E simulation of a thin arc preceded by a north-south-aligned auroral streamer." Geophysical Research Letters, 41: 2695–2701.

     
     

    Yang, J., R. A. Wolf, F. R. Toffoletto, S. Sazykin, and C .-P. Wang "RCM-E simulation of bimodal transport in the plasma sheet." Geophysical Research Letters, 41: 1817–1822.

     
     

    J. Yang, R. A. Wolf, F. R. Toffoletto "RCM-E simulation of bimodal transport in the plasma sheet, ." Geophysical Research LettersSubmitted

     
     

    Yang, J., R. A. Wolf, F. R. Toffoletto, and S. Sazykin (2013), RCM-E simulation of substorm growth phase arc associated with large-scale adiabatic convection, Geophys. Res. Lett., 40, 6017–6022, doi:10.1002/2013GL058253.

     
     

    Hudson M. K., D. N. Baker, J. Goldstein, B. T. Kress J. Paral, F. R. Toffoletto, and M. Wiltberger, Simulated Magnetopause Losses and Van Allen Probe Flux Dropouts, accepted, Geophys. Res. Lett., Dec., 2013

     
     

    Pembroke, A.F. ToffolettoS. SazykinM. WiltbergerJ. LyonV. Merkin, and P. Schmitt (2012), Initial results from a dynamic coupled magnetosphere-ionosphere-ring current modelJ. Geophys. Res.,117, A02211, doi:10.1029/2011JA016979.

     

     
     

    Yang, J.F. R. ToffolettoR. A. WolfS. SazykinP. A. Ontiveros, and J. M. Weygand (2012), Large-scale current systems and ground magnetic disturbance during deep substorm injectionsJ. Geophys. Res.117, A04223, doi:10.1029/2011JA017415.

     
     

    Yang, J.F. R. ToffolettoX. Xing, and V. Angelopoulos (2012), RCM-E simulation of the 13 March 2009 steady magnetospheric convection eventJ. Geophys. Res.117, A03224,

     
     

    Wolf, R. A.C. X. Chen, and F. R. Toffoletto (2012), Thin filament simulations for Earth's plasma sheet: Interchange oscillationsJ. Geophys. Res.117, A02215, doi:10.1029/2011JA016971.

     
     

    Wolf, R. A.C. X. Chen, and F. R. Toffoletto (2012), Thin filament simulations for Earth's plasma sheet: Tests of validity of the quasi-static convection approximationJ. Geophys. Res.117, A02216, doi:10.1029/2011JA016972.

     
     

    Hu, B., R. A. Wolf, F. R. Toffoletto, J. Yang, and J. Raeder (2011), Consequences of violation of frozen-in-flux: Evidence from OpenGGCM simulationsJ. Geophys. Res.116, A06223, doi:10.1029/2011JA016667.

     
     

    Subbotin, D. A., Y. Y. Shprits, M. Gkioulidou, L. R. Lyons, B. Ni, V. G. Merkin, F. R. Toffoletto, R. M. Thorne, R.B. Horne, and M. K. Hudson (2011), Simulation of the acceleration of relativistic electrons in the inner magnetosphere using RCM-VERB coupled codesJ. Geophys. Res.116, A08211, doi:10.1029/2010JA016350.

     
     

    Yang, J., F. R. Toffoletto, R. A. Wolf, and S. Sazykin (2011), RCM-E simulation of ion acceleration during an idealized plasma sheet bubble injectionJ. Geophys. Res.116, A05207, doi:10.1029/2010JA016346.

     
     

    Yang, J., R. A. Wolf, and F. R. Toffoletto (2011), Accelerated thinning of the near-Earth plasma sheet caused by a bubble-blob pairGeophys. Res. Lett.38, L01107, doi:10.1029/2010GL045993.

     
     

    Hu, B., F. R. Toffoletto, R. A. Wolf, S. Sazykin, J. Raeder, D. Larson, and A. Vapirev (2010), One‐way coupled OpenGGCM/RCM simulation of the 23 March 2007 substorm eventJ. Geophys. Res.115, A12205, doi:10.1029/2010JA015360.

     

     
     

    Yang, J., F. R. Toffoletto, G. M. Erickson, and R. A. Wolf (2010), Superposed epoch study of PV5/3 during substorms, pseudobreakups and convection baysGeophys. Res. Lett.37, L07102, doi:10.1029/2010GL042811.

     
     

    Yang, J., F. R. Toffoletto, and Y. Song (2010), Role of depleted flux tubes in steady magnetospheric convection: Results of RCM‐E simulations,J. Geophys. Res.115, A00I11, doi:10.1029/2010JA015731

     
     

    Lopez, R. E., J. G. Lyon, E. Mitchell, R. Bruntz, V. G. Merkin, S. Brogl, F. Toffoletto, and M. Wiltberger (2009), Why doesn't the ring current injection rate saturate?, J. Geophys. Res., 114, A02204, doi:10.1029/2008JA013141.

     

     
     

    Wu, L., F. R. Toffoletto, R. A Wolf, C. Lemon "Computing Magnetospheric Equilibria with Anisotropic Pressures." Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics (2009)

     
     

    Zhang, J.-C., R. A. Wolf, G. M. Erickson, R. W. Spiro, F. R. Toffoletto, and J. Yang (2009), Rice Convection Model simulation of the substorm-associated injection of an observed bubble into the inner magnetosphere: 1. Magnetic field and other inputs, J. Geophys. Res., 114, doi:10.1029/2009JA014130.

     

     

     
     

     Zhang, J.-C., R. A. Wolf, R. W. Spiro, G. M. Erickson, S. Sazykin, F. R. Toffoletto, and J. Yang (2009), Rice Convection Model simulation of the substorm-associated injection of an observed plasma bubble into the inner magnetosphere: 2. Simulation results, J. Geophys. Res., 114, doi:10.1029/2009JA014131.

     

     
     

    Zhang, J.-C., R. A. Wolf, S. Sazykin, and F. R. Toffoletto "Injection of a bubble into the inner magnetosphere." Geophysical Research Letters, doi:10.1029/2007GL032048. (2008)

     
     

    Zhang, J.-C., R. A. Wolf, S. Sazykin, and F. R. Toffoletto "Injection of a bubble into the inner magnetosphere." Geophysical Research Letters, doi:10.1029/2007GL032048. (2008)

     
     

    Huang, C. L., H. Spence, J. Lyon, F. R. Toffoletto, H. Singer, and S. Sazykin "Storm-time Configuration of the Inner Magnetosphere: LFM MHD Code, Tsyganenko Model and GOES Observations,." J. Geophys. Res (2006)

     
     

    Maruyama, N., A. D. Richmond, T. J. Fuller-Rowell, M. V. Codrescu, S. Sazykin, F. R. Toffoletto, R. W. Spiro, and G. H. Millward "nteraction between direct penetration and disturbance dynamo electric fields in the storm-time equatorial ionosphere." Geophys. Res. Lett., 32, L17105 (2005)

     
     

    Wolf R. A., V. Kumar, F. R. Toffoletto, G. M. Erickson, A. M. Savoie, C. X. Chen, and C. L. Lemon, Estimating local plasma sheet PV 5/3 from single-spacecraft measurements, J. Geophys. Res., 111, A12218, doi:10.1029/2006JA012010. 2006.

     
     

    Naehr, S and F. Toffoletto "Radiation Belt Data Assimilation with an Extended Kalman Filter." Space Weather, 3, S06001, doi:10.1029/2004SW000121 (2005)

     
     

    Ontiveros, P. A., S. M. Naehr, F. R. Toffoletto, T. W. Hill "A Flexible Approach to Modeling the Storm-Time Region 2 and Magnetopause Currents." J. Geophys. Res, 111, A09219, doi:10.1029/2006JA011634 (2006)

     
     

    Wolf, R. A., R. W. Spiro, S. Sazykin, F. R. Toffoletto, P. Le Sager, and T.-S. Huang "Use of Euler potentials for describing magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling." J. Geophys. Res, 111 (2006)

     
     Articles
     

    Yang J., F. R. Toffoletto, R. A. Wolf, S. Sazykin, R. W. Spiro, P. C. Brandt, M. G. Henderson, H. U. Frey "Rice Convection Model simulation of the 18 April 2002 sawtooth event and evidence for interchange instability." Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics, doi:10.1029/2008JA013635. (2008)

     
     Wolf R. A., R. W. Spiro, S. Sazykin, F. R. Toffoletto, P. Le Sager, and T.-S. Huang, Use of Euler potentials for describing magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling, J. Geophys. Res., 111, A07315, doi:10.1029/2005JA011558, 2006.
     
     

    Naehr, S. and F. R. Toffoletto "Quantitative modeling of the magnetic field configuration associated with the theta aurora." Journal of Geophysical ResearchIn Revision

     
     Book chapters
     

    Toffoletto, F. and Siscoe, G., Solar Wind Magnetosphere Coupling from a Global MHD Perspective, in Heliophysics I: "Plasma physics of the local cosmos", Cambridge University Press (2009).

     
     Refereed conference papers
     

    Sazykin, S., R. W. Spiro, R. A. Wolf, F. R. Toffoletto, N. Tsyganenko, J. Goldstein and M. Hairston "Modeling Inner Magnetospheric Electric Fields: Latest Self Consistent Results." The Inner Magnetosphere: Physics and Modeling (2005) : 263-269.

     
     

    Wolf, R. A., R. W. Spiro, S. Sazykin, and F. R. Toffoletto "How the Earth's inner magnetosphere works: An evolving picture." JASTP, doi:10.1016/j.jastp.2006.07.026 (2007)

     
     

    Sazykin, S., R. W. Spiro, R. A. Wolf, F. R. Toffoletto, N. Tsyganenko, J. Goldstein and M. Hairston "Modeling Inner Magnetospheric Electric Fields: Latest Self Consistent Results." : 263-269.

     
     Conference papers
     

    Sazykin, S. R. W. Spiro, R. A. Wolf, F. R. Toffoletto, N. Tsyganenko, J. Goldstein, and M. R. Hairston "Modeling Inner Magnetospheric Electric Fields: Latest Self-Consistent Results."  (2004) In Press

     
    Presentations
     Conference Paper
     

    "Recent progress in understanding Plasmasheet-Inner Magnetosphere Interactions." 15th Cluster-Doublestar workshop, Venice, Italy. (Oct. 12, 2015) With J. Yang, R. Wolf, S. Sazykin.

     
     Conference abstracts
     

    RCM-E modeling of thin upward Birkeland current in the dipole-tail transition region, with J. Yang, R. A. Wolf and S. Sazykin, fall 2013 AGU meeting, Dec. 2013.

     
     Invited Papers
     

    "

    Recent progress in understanding Plasmasheet-Inner Magnetosphere Interactions

    ." Third Inner Magnetosphere Coupling (IMC-III) workshop, UCLA. (March 23, 2015) With J. Yang, R. Wolf, S. Sazykin

     
     

    "

    Modeling of plasmasheet convection

    ." International Symposium on Space Simulations – 12, Prague, Czechoslovakia. (July 9, 2015) With J. Yang, R. Wolf, S. Sazykin, J. Lyon, S. Merkin, and M. Wiltberger

     
     

    "Flow bursts and bubbles and their impacts on the inner magnetosphere as

    represented by LFM-MIX-RCM." Inner Magnetosphere Coupling II (IMC II) Conference, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA. (03/19/2012) With A. Pembroke, S. Sazkyin, M. Wiltberger, J. Lyon, S. Merkin and P. Schmitt

     
     

    Advisor.  "Investigating the role of the entropy parameter in plasma sheet dynamics." AGU fall meeting, San Francisco. (Dec 2011) With Jian Yang, Richard A. Wolf, Stanislav Sazykin, Bei Hu, Joachim Raeder

     
     

    Presenter.  "Lessons learned from coupling the Rice Convection Model to Global MHD." AOGS Meeting, Taipei, Taiwan. (August 2011) With Bei Hu, Asher Pembroke, Stanislav Sazykin, Richard Wolf, John Lyon, Slava Merkin, Mike Wiltberger, Peter Schmitt and Joachim Raeder

     
     

    Presenter.  "Self-consistent coupling of LFM Global MHD model with the Rice Convection Model

     ." IUGG Meeting, Melbourne, Australia. (JUne 2011) With A. Pembroke, S. Sazykin, J. Lyon, S. Merkin, M, Wiltberger, and P. Schmitt

     
     Invited Talks
     

    "Interaction between the Tail-Inner Magnetosphere – status report." LWS town Hall, San Francisco. (Dec 14, 2015)

     
     

    Presentter.  "Recent progress in understanding of the interaction of the Plasmasheet with the Inner Magnetosphere." International Conference on Substorms (ICS-12), Ise, Japan. (Nov. 13, 2014) With Jian Yang, Richard Wolf and Stanislav Sazykin

     
     

    A tutorial on the Physics behind the Rice Convection Model (invited), given at the International School on Space Simulations -11, National Central University, July, 2013.

     
     

    Comparing the coupled LFM Global MHD - Rice Convection Model to observations (invited), given at the AOGS meeting, Brisbane, Australia, July 2013, with A. Pembroke, R. A. Wolf, S. Sazkyin, M. Wiltberger, J. Lyon, S. Merkin and P. Schmitt

     
     

    LFM-RCM run for the Oct 10-12, 2013 storm (Invited) at the GEM workshop, June, 2013, with A. Pembroke, S. Sazkyin, M. Wiltberger, J. Lyon, S. Merkin and P. Schmitt.

     
     

    "An RCM-E simulation of steady magnetospheric convection." 10th International Conference on Substorms, San Luis Obispo, California. With J. Yang, F. R. Toffoletto, R. A. Wolf, Y. Song, S. Sazykin

     
     

    Presenter.  "Inner Magnetospheric Modeling with the Rice Convection Model." RBSP Workshop, Boulder, CO. (August 31, 2010) With Frank Toffoletto, Dick Wolf, Stan Sazykin, Bob Spiro, Jian Yang, Bei Hu, Asher Pembroke, Yang Song Rice University, Colby Lemon, Aerospace, Mike Wiltberger & Pete Schmitt, NCAR John Lyon, Dartmouth, Slava Merkin, BU (APL). Jimmy Raeder

     
     

    Presenter.  "Self-consistent coupling of Global MHD with the RCM: Recent Progress." AGU meeting of the Americas, Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil. (August 10, 2010) With F. Toffoletto, S. Sazykin, & A. Pembroke, Rice University; J. Lyon, Dartmouth; S. Merkin, BU; & M. Wiltberger & Pete Schmitt &, NCAR

     
     

    "The role of specific entropy PV5/3 in different modes of plasma sheet transport." Western Pacific Geophysics Meeting, Taipei, Taiwan. (June 23, 2010) With Jian Yang, Frank Toffoletto, Dick Wolf, Stan Sazykin, Yang Song, Bob Spiro

     
     

    Presenter.  "Effects of a simple ionosphere model on the coupled LFM-RCM." Boulder Workshop on Ionospheric-Magnetospheric Plasma, Boulder, CO. (Sept 30, 2009)

     
     

    Presenter.  "RCM LFM Coupling – Recent progress." CISM all Hands meeting, Boulder, CO. (Sept 14,2009)

     
     

    "Recent progress using the coupled RCM-LFM (Invited), Dartmouth Seminar, with S. Sazykin, A. Pembroke, J. Lyon, M. Wiltberger and S. Merkin, 2/2009.." (Feb, 2009)

     
     

    Presenter.  "Ballooning in the RCM-E Growth phase." GEM workshop, Zermatt, UTAH. (June 25, 2008) With C. Crabtree

     
     

    Presenter.  "Simulation of a Substorm Growth phase using the RCM-E." 9th International Conference on Substorms, Seggau Castle, Austria. (May 5-9, 2008) With J. Yang, and R. A. Wolf

     
     

    Presenter.  "Ballooning in the RCM-E?." GEM Workshop, Zermatt, UT. (June 19, 2005) With R. A. Wolf, S. Sazykin, C. Crabtree, W. Horton

     
     http://www.bu.edu/cism/ScienceSeminar/seminarlist.html
     
     

    Speaker.  "Modeling the Inner Magnetosphere." 8-th International School for Space Simulations, Kauai, Hawaii. (March 3, 2007) With R. A Wolf, S. Sazykin, R. W. Spiro

     
     

    Speaker.  "Pressure distribution investigations using the Rice Convection Model." IUGG General Assembly, Perugia, Italy. (July 7, 2007) With S. Sazykin, R. W. Spiro, R. A. Wolf, and V. Kumar

     
     

    Presenter.  "Magnetosphere-Ionosphere Coupling: A Modeler's Perspective." CAWSES International Workshop on Space Weather Modeling (CSWM), Yokohama, Japan. (Nov, 2006) With S. Sazykin, R. W. Spiro, R. A. Wolf and Z. Zhang

     
     

    "Inner magnetospheric modeling using a coupled Rice Convection Model and Global MHD." HPCC2005, Belgium. (April 2005) With S. Sazykin, J. Lyon and P. Ricci

     
     

    Presenter.  "RCM LFM Coupling." GEM Workshop, Santa Fe, NM. (June 29, 2005) With S. Sazykin, J. Lyon and P. Ricci

     
     

    "Auroral Consequences of Magnetopause Reconnection: A Modeler's Perspective." GEM Workshop, Snowmass, Co. (June 2004) With S. Naehr

     
     

    "Extreme events impact on geospace from a modeler's perspective." SHINE Workshop, Big Sky, Montana. (July, 2004) With S. Sazykin, P. Ricci and J. Lyon

     
     

    "Highlights from the CISM All-hands meeting." CISM All hands meeting, Boston, MA. (September, 2004) With S. Sazykin, J. Lyon and P. Ricci

     
     

    "RCM / LFM: Initial results of 2-way coupling (Invited), presented at the GEM workshop." GEM Workshop, Snowmass, Co. (June, 2004) With J. Lyon, S. Sazykin and R. A. Wolf

     
     Lectures
     

    "Solar Wind Magnetosphere Coupling." Heliophysics Summer School, Boulder, CO. (July 2011)

     
     

    Presenter.  "Simulation of a Substorm Growth and Expansion phases using the RCM-E." Western Pacific Geophysics Meeting, Cairns, Australia. (Aug 1, 2008) With J. Yang, R. A. Wolf, S. Sazykin, and C. Crabtree

     
     

    Lecturer at Summer School.  "Solar Wind Magnetosphere Coupling." Heliophysics Summer School, Boulder, Co. (Aug. 5, 2007)

     
     

    Lecturer at Summer School.  "Storms and Substorms." Heliophysics Summer School, Boulder, Co. (Aug. 7. 2007)

     
     

    "Inner magnetospheric physics from the Rice Convection Model Perspective. (Challenges in Inner Magnetospheric Modeling)." Dartmouth College Seminar, Hanover, NH. (Nov, 2004)

     
     Other
     

    Advisor.  "The magnetospheric structure during substorm growth phase: a tentative calculation using satellite observed pressure

     ." AGU fall meeting, San Francisco. (Dec 2011) With L. Zheng, S. Zaharia and C. P. Wang

     
     

    Presenter.  "LFM RCM Coupling – Recent progress." CISM advisory council, Boston University. (March 9, 2010) With F. Toffoletto, S. Sazykin, A. Pembroke, Rice University; J. Lyon, Dartmouth; S. Merkin, BU

     
     Posters
     

     Schutza, A., Frank R. Toffoletto, Richard A. Wof, Thin Filament Simulations on an X-Line

     
     

    Advisor.  "

    The Role of Turbulence and Bursty-Bulk Flows in Plasma Sheet Transport

    ." AGU fall meeting, San Francisco. (12/7/12) With A. Pembroke, R. A. Wolf, S. Sazykin, J. Lyon, M. Wiltberger, V. Merkin

     
     

    Advisor.  "A 3-Dimensional Study of Bursty-Bulk Flows in LFM-RCM-MIX
    ." AGU fall meeting, San Francisco. (Dec 2011) With Asher D. Pembroke; Frank Toffoletto; Michael Hesse

     
     

    Advisor.  "Computing experiments using the OpenGGCM and the RCM." GEM workshop, Snowmass, CO. (June 24, 2010) With B. Hu, F. R. Toffoletto, R. A. Wol1, J. Raeder

     
     

    Presenter.  "Consequences of current disruption in the near-Earth region." 10th International Conference on Substorms, San Luis Obispo, California. (March 25, 2010) With Jian Yang, Richard Wolf, Bei Hu and Jimmy Raeder

     
     

    Presenter.  "LFM-RCM Coupling Results

     ." CISM Site visit, Boston University. (May 18. 2010) With Asher Pembroke, Stanislav Sazyki1, John Lyon, Pete Schmitt, Mike Wiltberger and Slava Merkin

     
     

    "Searching For A Flux Tube Volume Estimation In The Asymmetric Tail From Spacecraft Measurements

     ." GEM workshop, Snowmass, CO. (June 24, 2010) With Liheng Zheng, Frank Toffoletto, Richard Wolf, Anthony Chan

     
     

    Advisor.  "An RCM-E simulation of a steady magnetospheric convection event." AGU fall meeting, San Francisco. (Dec 2009)

     
     

    Advisor.  "An algorithm to estimate flux tube volume and entropy parameter for non-zero dipole tilt." AGU fall meeting, San Francisco. (Dec 2009)

     
     

    Advisor.  "Beyond Illustration: New Data Driven Techniques for Visualizing Magnetospheric Structure." Fall 2009 AGU meeting, San Francisco. (Dec 2009)

     
     

    Presenter.  "Synthetic Magnetogram Code for Magnetosphere-Ionosphere Coupling Models." AGU fall meeting, San Francisco. (Dec 2009)

     
     

    Advisor.  "Two-way Coupled OpenGGCM and the Rice Convection Model." AGU fall meeting, San Francisco. (Dec 2009)

     
     

    Faculty advisor.  "Coupling of OpenGGCM and Rice Convection Model." GEM workshop, Zermatt, UTAH. (June 24, 2008) With Bei Hu and Jimmy Raeder

     
     

    Advisor.  "OpenGGCM/RCM simulation of the March 23, 2007 substorm event." Fall 2008 AGU meeting, San Francisco. (Dec 15, 2008) With B. Hu, J. Raeder, S. Sazykin, A. Vapirev, D. J. Larson

     
     

    Advisor.  "The change of PV5/3 in substorm associated dipolarizations and its effects at geosynchronous orbit." GEM workshop, Zermatt, UTAH. (June 24, 2008) With J. Yang, S. Sazykin, G. Erickson and R. A. Wolf

     
     

    Advisor.  "The modeling of a substorm event using the Rice Convection Model with and equilibrium magnetic field. ." fall 2008 AGU meeting, San Francisco. (Dec 15, 2008) With J. Yang, R. A. Wolf, G. M. Erickson, and S. Sazykin

     
     Colby Lemon, Tim Guild, Margaret Chen, Paul O'Brien Dick Wolf Stan Sazykin
     
     

    Advisor for Student Poster.  "Analyzing RCM-LFM Coupled and Uncoupled Results, using Field-aligned Topological Grid." GEM Workshop, Zermatt, UT. (June 19, 2007) With Asher Pembroke, John Lyon, Michael Wiltberger

     
     

    "Calculation of Synthetic Ground Magnetograms from Current Distributions." Fall 2007 AGU meeting, San Francisco, CA. (Dec 12, 2007) With P. Ontiveros, R. A. Wolf, M. Liehmohn

     
     

    Advisor for Student Poster.  "Effects of pressure anisotropy on the inner-magnetospheric magnetic field." GEM Workshop, Zermatt, UT. (June 21, 2007) With Liang Wu

     
     

    Advisor for Student Poster.  "Effects of pressure anisotropy on the magnetic field in the inner magnetosphere." Fall 2007 AGU meeting, San Francisco, CA. (Dec 12, 2007) With Liang Wu, Richard Wolf

     
     

    Advisor for Student Poster.  "New analysis techniques for the coupled RCM-LFM and RCM-BATSRUS magneto-spheric simulations, using "Intelligent Meshes" Constructed in CISM-DX." International School of Space Simulations - 8, Kauai, Hawaii. (March 2, 2007) With Asher D. Pembroke, John Lyon, Michael Wiltberger

     
     

    Advisor for Student Poster.  "Preliminary simulation results of the 18 April 2002 sawtooth event using Rice Convection Model." GEM Workshop, Zermatt, UT. (June 19, 2005)

     
     

    Advisor for Student Poster.  "Simulation of the18 April 2002 Sawtooth Event Using the Rice Convection Model." Fall 2007 AGU meeting, San Francisco, CA. (Dec 12, 2007) With Jian Yang, Richard Wolf, Stanislav Sazykin, Nikolai Tsyganenko, Pontus Brandt, Mike Henderson, Harald Frey

     
     

    Advisor for Student Poster.  "Synthetic Magnetogram Calculation." GEM Workshop, Zermatt, UT. (June 19, 2007) With Paul Ontiveros, Richard Wolf, Michael Liemohn, and Raluca Ilie

     
     

    Presenter.  "Tests and consequences of ballooning in the RCM-E." Fall 2007 AGU meeting, San Francisco, CA. (Dec 12, 2007) With R. A. Wolf, S. Sazykin,C. Crabtree, W. Horton

     
     

    Advisor for Student Poster.  "The Anisotropic Version of the Friction Code Equilibrium Solver." International School of Space Simulations - 8, Kauai, Hawaii. (March 2, 2007) With Liang Wu

     
     

    Student Advisor.  "Calculation of Theoretical Magnetograms from Magnetosphere-Ionosphere Computational Models." GEM workshop, Snowmass Co. (June 2006) With Paul A. Ontiveros, Richard A. Wolf

     
     

    Postdoc Advisor.  "Estimating Local Plasma Sheet PV^5/3 from Measurement on a Single Spacecraft." GEM workshop, Snowmass Co. (June 2006) With R. Wolf, V. Kumar, G. Erickson, A. Savoie, C. Chen, and C. Lemon

     
     

    Presenter.  "Investigations of Interchange stability using the RCM-E." Fall AGU meeting, San Francisco. (Dec 2006) With Richard Wolf, Stanislav Sazykin, Robert Spiro, Vinod Kumar, Jichun Zhang

     
     

    "LFM meets RCM: Initial results of two-way coupling." Fall 2004 AGU meeting, San Francisco, CA. (Dec 6, 2004) With S. Sazykin, J. Lyon and P. Ricci

     
     

    Presenter.  "Modeling the Inner Magnetosphere with the Coupled Rice Convection Model – Equilibrium Code." International School of Space Simulation - 7, Kyoto, Japan. With C. Lemon, T. W. Hill, S. Sazykin, R. W. Spiro, R. A. Wolf, J. Birn and M. Hesse

     
     

    "RCM meets LFM: Intial results of 2-way coupling." AGU fall meeting, San Francisco. (Dec 2004) With S. Sazykin, J. Lyon and P. Ricci

     
     Seminar Speaker
     

    "STORMS IN SPACE: Insights from Numerical Simulations? ." Colloquium, Rice University. (Oct 7, 2009)

     
     Session Chair
     

    "GEM Tail Inner magnetosphere interactions." GEM mini workshop, San Francisco. (Dec 13, 2015)

     
     

    "GEM Tail Inner magnetosphere interactions." GEM Summer workshop, Snowmass, Co. (June 23, 2015)

     
     

    Session organizer.  "GEM Tail Inner magnetosphere interactions." GEM summer workshop, Portsmouth, VA. (6/17/2014)

     
     

    "Gem tail inner magnetosphere interactions." GEM mini workshop, San Francisco. (12/13/2014)

     
     

    Organizer/chair.  "Living with a Star Team meeting." LWS team meeting, Rice University. (2/11/2014)

     
     

    The impact of BBFs/Bubbles on the Plasmasheet, Ring Current and Radiation Belts

     
     

    "SM42A. Plasma Access to the Inner Magnetosphere I." (Dec 12, 2013)

     
     

    "GEM Focus Group on tail-inner magnetosphere interactions." GEM workshop, Snowmass CO. (6/21/12 - 6/22/12)

     
     Workshops
     

    "Large-scale current systems and ground magnetic disturbance during deep substorm injections." ISSI Workshop, Bern, Switzerland. (1/17/2012) With J. Yang, F. R. Toffoletto, R. A. Wolf, S. Sazykin, P. A. Ontiveros, J. M. Weygand

     
     

    Presenter.  "Oscillations in the coupled LFM-RCM." GEM workshop, Snowmass, CO. (June 24, 2010) With A. Pembroke, S. Sazykin, J. Lyon, M. WIltberger, P. Schmitt, S. Merkin

     
     

    Presenter.  "Superposed epoch study." GEM workshop, Snowmass, CO. (June 24, 2010) With J. Yang

     
     

    Presenter.  "Numerical Experiments with the Coupled LFM-RCM." GEM Workshop, Snowmass CO. (June 22, 2009)

     
     

    Advisor.  "RCM-E simulation of an isolated substorm ." GEM Workshop, Snowmass CO. (June 22, 2009)

     
     

    Presenter.  "LFM-RCM Coupling - an update." CISM all hands workshop, Boston, MA. (Sept 12, 2005) With S. Sazykin, J. Lyon and P. Ricci

     
     

    "LFM-RCM Status." CISM code couplers workshop, Rice University. (Jan 18-20, 2005) With S. Sazykin, J. Lyon and P. Ricci

     
    Supervised Theses & Dissertations
     Aaron Coyner, PhD Multi-wavelength Analysis of Solar Transient Phenomena. (2008) (Committee Member)

     Jian Yang, MS Rice Convection Model Simulation of the 18 April 2002 Sawtooth Event and Evidence for Interchange Instability. (2008) (Thesis or Dissertation Director)

     Liang Wu, MS Computing Magnetospheric Equilibria with Anisotropic Pressures. (2008) (Thesis or Dissertation Director)

     Han Wu, PhD Rice Convection Model Simulations of the Centrifugal Interchange Instability in the Magnetospheres of Jupiter and Saturn. (2008) (Committee Member)

     Paul Ontiveros, PhD Synthetic Magnetogram Calculations from Magnetosphere-Ionosphere Coupling Models. (2008) (Thesis or Dissertation Director)

     Evan Miller, MS Improving the Synthetic Magnetogram Code. (2009) (Thesis or Dissertation Director)

     Xin Tao, PhD Hamiltonian Theory and Stochastic Simulation Methods for Radiation Belt Dynamics. (2010) (Committee Member)

     Errol J Summerlin, PhD Diffusive Acceleration of Particles at Collisionless Magnetohydrodynamic Shocks . (2010) (Committee Member)

     Asher Pembroke, MS LFM-RCM: Toward a Coupled Description of the Inner and Outer Magnetosphere. (2010) (Thesis or Dissertation Director)

     Robert Carver, PhD Shocks and Jets from the Laboratory Environment to the Astrophysical Regime: Transforming AstroBEAR Into an All Purpose MHD Simulation Package. (2010) (Committee Member)

     Jian Yang, PhD Inner Magnetospheric Modeling during Geomagnetic Active Times . (2010) (Thesis or Dissertation Director)

     Bei Hu, MS RCM simulation of the March 23rd 2007 substorm event using the OpenGGCM. (2010) (Thesis or Dissertation Director)

     Arpan Bhowmik, B.S. Simulating Equilibrium Structures in the Corona. (2011) (Thesis or Dissertation Director)

     Jacob Palmer, M.S. Simulating Shocked Clumps and HH 29. (2011) (Committee Member)

     Xin Liu, M.S. Numerical simulation of plasma transport in Saturn's inner magnetosphere using the Rice Convection Model. (2011) (Committee Member)

     Chunming Zhu, M.S. Magnetic helicity injection and velocity characteristics of rotating sunspots. (2011) (Committee Member)

     Yu-Rong Zhen, M.S. Pd nanocrystals with single-, double-, and triple-cavities: facile synthesis and tunable plasmonic properties†. (2012) (Committee Member)

     Bei Hu, PhD Modeling the Earth’s Magnetosphere using Magnetohydrodynamics. (2012) (Thesis or Dissertation Director)

     Liheng Zheng, MS A Method to Compute Three Dimensional Magnetospheric Force Equilibria with Dipole Tilt and Its Application in Estimating Magnetic Flux Tube Volume. (2012) (Thesis or Dissertation Director)

     Asher Pembroke, PhD A Dynamic Coupled Magnetosphere-Ionosphere-Ring Current Model. (2013) (Thesis or Dissertation Director)

     Vikram Kulkarni, MS Quantum Plasmonics: Optical Properties of the Nanomatryoshka. (2013) (Committee Member)

     Bryan Bates, BS Modeling Force Free Coronal Magnetic Fields Using MHD Methods. (2015) (Thesis or Dissertation Director)

     Aaron Schutza, MS Simulation of Dislocated Flux in Space Plasma Environments: Applications in Geospace Modeling and Ionosphere-Magnetosphere Coupling. (2016) (Thesis or Dissertation Director)

    Awards, Prizes, & Fellowships
     Distinguished faculty associate - Martel College, Martel College (April, 2015)

     Distinguished faculty associate - Martel College, Martel College (April, 2014)

     Outstanding Faculty Associate – Martel College, Martel Collete (May 2013)