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Scholarly Interest Report
         
Anthony Arthur Chan
Professor
Professor of Physics and Astronomy
 
e-mail:aac@rice.edu
 
  • B.Sc. (1981) University of Auckland, New Zealand
  • M.Sc. First Class Honors (1983) University of Auckland, New Zealand
  • Ph.D. (1991) Princeton University
 
Primary Department
   Department of Physics and Astronomy
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Department Affiliations
 
  • Rice Space Institute
  •  
    Websites
     Anthony Chan's Personal Web Page
     
    Research Areas
     Theoretical plasma physics with emphasis on basic plasma physics and space plasmas
     

    Research Statement

     

    Professor Chan's primary research area is the acceleration and transport of energetic particles in space plasmas, particularly relativistic electrons in Earth's magnetosphere. This work involves theory and simulation of the nonlinear dynamics of relativistic particles in magnetospheric electromagnetic fields, including motion in large-scale fields and in turbulent electromagnetic wave fields. Relativistic electrons are of great interest because it is not well understood how and where they are accelerated to such high energies and because these particles are potentially harmful to technological systems and to humans in space. Recently Dr. Chan and graduate students Yue Fei, Bin Yu, Xin Tao, and Liheng Zheng have been collaborating on a variety of projects to develop advanced theoretical models of relativistic electron dynamics. Research on the relativistic electrons is undertaken with researchers at the University of Colorado in Boulder, and with other Rice faculty.

     
    Teaching Areas
     Plasma physics, electrodynamics, mathematical methods in physics
     
    Selected Publications
     Refereed articles
     

    Ali, Ashar F., Scot R. Elkington, Weichao Tu, Louis G. Ozeke, Anthony A. Chan, and Reiner H. W. Friedel "Magnetic field power spectra and magnetic radial diffusion coefficients using CRRES magnetometer data." Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 120 (2015) : 973-995.

     
     

    Zheng, L., A. A. Chan, T. P. O'Brien, W. Tu, G. S. Cunningham, J. M. Albert, and S. R. Elkington "Effects of magnetic drift shell splitting on electron diffusion in the radiation belts." Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics (2015) Submitted

     
     

    Liheng Zheng, Anthony A. Chan, Jay M. Albert, Scot R. Elkington, Josef Koller, Richard B. Horne, Sarah A. Glauert, and Nigel P. Meredith "Three-dimensional stochastic modeling of radiation belts in adiabatic invariant coordinates." Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 119 (2014) : 7615-7635.

     
     

    Spence, H. E., G. D. Reeves, D. N. Baker, J. B Blake, M. Bolton, S. Bourdarie, A. A. Chan,  S. G. Claudepierre, J. H. Clemmons, J. P. Cravens, S. R. Elkington, J. F. Fennell, R. H. W. Friedel, H. O. Funsten, J. Goldstein, J. C. Green, A. Guthrie, M. G. Henderson, R. B. Horne, M. K. Hudson, J.-M. Jahn, V. K. Jordanova, S. G. Kanekal, B. W. Klatt, B. A. Larsen, X. Li, E. A. MacDonald, I. R. Mann, J. Niehof, T. P. O’Brien, T. G. Onsager, D. Salvaggio, R. M. Skoug, S. S. Smith, L. L. Suther, M. F. Thomsen, and R. M. Thorne, Science Goals and Overview of the Energetic Particle, Composition, and Thermal Plasma (ECT) Suite on NASA’s Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP) Mission, Space Sci. Rev., DOI: 10.1007/s11214-013-0007-5, 2013.

     
     Articles
     

    Ground-based magnetometer determination of in-situ Pc4-5 ULF Electric Field wave spectra as a function of solar wind speed. I. Jonathan Rae, Ian R. Mann, Kyle R. Murphy, Louis G. Ozeke, David K. Milling, Anthony A. Chan, Scot R. Elkington. Journal of Geophysical Research 117(A4), 2012.

     
     

    ULF Wave Derived Radiation Belt Radial Diffusion Coefficients, Louis G. Ozeke, Ian R. Mann, I. Jonathan Rae, Kyle Murphy, David K. Milling, Scot R. Elkington, Anthony A. Chan and Howard J. Singer, Journal of Geophysical Research 117(A4), 2012.

     
     

    Reeves, G. D., A. A. Chan, and Craig Rodger "New Directions for Radiation Belt Research." Space Weather, 7 (2009) : S07004.

     
     

    Tao, X., J. M. Albert, A. A. Chan "Numerical modeling of multi-dimensional diffusion in the radiation belts using layer methods." Journal of Geophysical Research, 114 (2009) : A02215.

     
     

    Liemohn, M. W., and A. A. Chan "Reply to comment on "Unraveling the Causes of Radiation Belt Enchancements,"." Eos, 89 (2008) : 379.

     
     

    Tao, X., A. A. Chan, J. M. Albert, and J. A. Miller "Stochastic modeling of multidimensional diffusion in the radiation belts." Journal of Geophysical Research, 113 (2008) : A07212.

     
     

    Liemohn, M. W., and A. A. Chan "Unraveling the Causes of Radiation Belt Enhancements." Eos, 88 (2007) : 425.

     
     

    Tao, X., A. A. Chan, A. J. Brizard "Hamiltonian Theory of Adiabatic Motion of Relativistic Charged Particles." Physics of Plasmas, 14 (2007) : 092107.

     
     Refereed conference papers
     

    S. R. Elkington, A. A. Chan, and M. J. Wiltberger. Global structure of ULF waves during the 24-26 September 1998 geomagnetic storm. In Dynamics of the Earth’s Radiation Belts and Inner Magnetosphere, editors Danny Summers, Ian Mann, Daniel Baker, and Michael Schulz, volume 199, page 127, AGU, Washington, D.C., 2012.

     
    Presentations
     Conference Paper
     

    "Effects of Drift Shell Splitting by Chorus Waves on Radiation Belt Diffusion." AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, California. (December 14--18, 2015)

     
     

    "Effects of Drift Shell Splitting on Radiation Belt Diffusion." 26th IUGG General Assembly, Prague, Czech Republic. (June 22 to July 2, 2015)

     
     

    "Drift-Shell Splitting Cross Diffusion in the Radiation Belts." GEM Mini Workshop, San Francisco. (December 14, 2014)

     
     

    "Effects of Cyclotron-Drift and Bounce-Drift Cross Diffusion on Evolution of Radiation Belt Phase-Space Densities." AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco. (December 15-19, 2014)

     
     Invited Papers
     

    Chan, A. A., Liheng Zheng, J. M. Albert, S. R. Elkington, J. Koller, Modeling of Radiation Belt Diffusion Using Stochastic Differential Equation Methods, AOGS (Asia-Oceania Geophysical Society) Meeting, Brisbane, Australia, June 24-28, 2013.

     
     Invited Talks
     

    "Application of Stochastic Methods to Modeling of Earth’s Radiation Belts." 12th International School and Symposium for Space Simulations (ISSS-12), Prague, Czech Republic. (July 7 to 10, 2015)

     
     

    "Effects of Drift Shell Splitting on Radiation Belt Diffusion." IMC-III (Inner Magnetosphere Conference III), UCLA, Los Angeles, California. (March 23-27, 2015)

     
     

    "Recent SDE Model Results on Radiation Belt Dynamics." GEM Summer Workshop, Portsmouth, Virginia. (June 15-20, 2014)

     
     

    "Simulation of Radial Transport, Local Acceleration, and Loss in the Radiation Belts." 6th VERSIM Workshop, Dunedin, New Zealand. (January 20-23, 2014)

     
     

    Chan, A. A., S. R. Elkington, J. M. Albert, L. Zheng,  Radial Transport, Local Acceleration, and Loss in the Radiation Belts: Integration of Theories and Observations. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, December 9-13, 2013.

     
     

    Radial Transport of Radiation Belt Electrons in a High-Speed Stream Storm: Comparing Models and Observations. A.A. Chan, Y.-F. Chen, S.R. Elkington, J. Koller, I.R. Mann, I.J. Rae, and L.G. Ozeke. IMC II, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, March 19-22, 2012.

     
     

    Simulations of Radiation Belt Electron Dynamics in High-Speed-Stream Storms. A.A. Chan, Y.-F. Chen, S.R. Elkington, J. Koller. URSI National Meeting, Boulder, Colorado, January 4-7, 2012.

     
     

    Development of an MHD-SDE Simulation Method for Radiation Belt Modeling. A. A. Chan, S. R. Elkington, J. M. Albert, ISSI Workshop 1 on The Earth's Radiation Belts: Physical Processes and Dynamic Modeling. Bern, Switzerland, February 8-11, 2011.

     
     

    "Killer Electrons and Phase-Space Lagrangians: Relativistic Electron Dynamics in Earth's Magnetosphere." Laboratoire de Physique des Plasmas, Ecole Polytechnique - CNRS, Observatoire de Saint-Maur, Saint Maur des Fossés, France. (June 11, 2009)

     
     

    "Theory and Simulations of Relativistic Electron Dynamics in Earth's Magnetosphere." CEA Cadarache, Institut de reserche sur la fusion par confinement magnétique (IRFM), Aix-en-Provence, France. (June 18, 2009)

     
     

    "A Brief Tour of the Universe." A presentation to Houston Independent School District science teachers, through the BCM (Baylor College of Medicine) Science Educator Leadership Fellows program, Sanchez Elementary School. (November 12, 2008)

     
     

    "Development of SDE (Stochastic Differential Equation) Methods for Solving Radiation Belt Diffusion Equations." COSPAR Scientific Assembly, Montreal, Canada. (July 13-20, 2008) With X. Tao, J. Albert, and J. Miller

     
     

    "Recent Results from Using Stochastic Methods to solve Radiation Belt Diffusion Equations." Barrier Reef Radiation Belt (BRRB) Meeting, Palm Cove, Australia. (August 4-6, 2008) With X. Tao and J. Albert

     
     Other
     

    Elkington, S. R., A. A. Chan, Liheng Zheng, A Comprehensive Simulation Method for Examining Radiation Belt Dynamics. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, December 9-13, 2013.

     
     

    Chan, A. A., L. Zheng, S. R. Elkington, J. M. Albert, An Update on Radiation Belt Modeling: 3D Diffusion Using SDE Methods. RBSP-ECT Team Meeting, Redondo Beach, January 10-11, 2013.

     
     

    Global Simulations of Radiation Belt Dynamics: Extending the MHD/Particle Approach to Include High-Frequency Wave Effects. S.R. Elkington, A.A. Chan, and J. McCollough. COSPAR Scientific Assembly, Mysore, India, July 14-22, 2012.

     
     

    ULF Wave Driven Radial Diffusion in the Radiation Belts. I. Mann, L.G. Ozeke, I.J. Rae, D.K. Milling, A.A. Chan, et al. IUGG Assembly, Melbourne, Australia, June 28 - July 7, 2011.

     
     

    Role of Long-Period ULF Waves in Radiation Belt Transport and Loss. I. Mann, L.G. Ozeke, I.J. Rae, D.K. Milling, A.A. Chan, et al. Fall AGU Meeting, San Francisco, California, December 4-9, 2011.

     
     

    ULF Power Spectral Densities and Radial Diffusion Coefficients During High-Speed-Stream Storms. Yen-fei Chen, Anthony Arthur Chan, Scot Richard Elkington, Josef Koller, Ian Robert Mann, Jonathan Rae, Louis Ozeke, Fall AGU Meeting, San Francisco, California, December 4-9, 2011.

     
     

    Characterizing magnetospheric ULF wave power due to direct driving by the solar wind. S. R. Elkington, S. Claudepierre, A. A. Chan, M. Wiltberger. COSPAR Scientific Assembly, Bremen, Germany, July 18-24, 2010.

     
     

    Development of MHD-SDE Methods for Radiation Belt Simulations, A. A. Chan, S. R. Elkington, J. M. Albert. COSPAR Scientific Assembly, Bremen, Germany, July 18-24, 2010.

     
     

    Estimating Flux Tube Volume At Geosynchronous Orbit From Single Spacecraft Measurements. Liheng Zheng, Frank Toffoletto, Richard Wolf, Anthony Chan, 2010 Fall AGU Meeting, San Francisco, December 13-17, 2010.

     
     

    Physics-based ULF Wave Radial Diffusion Coefficients in the Van Allen Belts. Ian Mann, Jonathan Rae, Louis Ozeke, Kyle Murphy, David Milling, Anthony Chan, and Scot Elkington, COSPAR Scientific Assembly, Bremen, Germany, July 18-24, 2010.

     
     

    RBSP: Model applications for pre-launch mission science. G. D. Reeves, J. Koller, S. Zaharia, D. Welling, V. Jordanova, A. A. Chan, S. R. Elkington. COSPAR Scientific Assembly, Bremen, Germany, July 18-24, 2010.

     
     

    Radiation Belt Radial Diffusion Coefficients Derived From Ground-based and In-situ ULF Wave Measurements, Ian Mann, Jonathan Rae, Louis Ozeke, Kyle  Murphy, David Milling, Anthony Chan, and Scot Elkington, 2010 Fall AGU Meeting, San Francisco, December 13-17, 2010.

     
     

    Simulation of Radiation Belt Wave-Particle Interactions Using MHD-SDE Methods. Anthony Chan, Scot Elkington, and Jay Albert, 2010 Fall AGU Meeting, San Francisco, December 13-17, 2010.

     
     

    "Theory and Simulations of Interaction of Radiation Belt Electrons with MHD Waves." Fall AGU Meeting, San Francisco, California, USA. (December 18, 2009) With S. R. Elkington, Xin Tao, Bin Yu, and B. Keenan

     
     

    "Hamiltonian Theory and Stochastic Simulation Methods for Radiation Belt Dynamics." American Physical Society Division of Plasma Physics Annual Meeting, Dallas, Texas. (November 17-21, 2008) With X. Tao, A. J. Brizard, J. M. Albert

     
     

    "Multidimensional Radiation Belt Diffusion Modeling using SDE (Stochastic Differential Equation) Methods." Western Pacific Geophysics Meeting, Caims, Australia. (July 29 - August 1, 2008) With X. Tao and J. Albert

     
     

    "Numerical modeling of radiation belt diffusion equations using layer methods." American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, California. (December 15-19, 2008) With X. Tao, J. M. Albert

     
     

    "Simulation of Radiation Belt Diffusion Using SDE (Stochastic Differential Equation) Methods." Fall AGU Meeting, San Francisco, California. (December 10-14, 2007) With Xin Tao, Jay Albert, James Miller

     
     Posters
     

    Development of a 3D Radiation Belt Model in Adiabatic Invariant Coordinates Using Stochastic Differential Equations. Liheng Zheng, Anthony Chan, Jay M Albert, Josef Koller, and Scot Elkington. AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, California, December 3-7, 2012.

     
     

    "Effects of Off-Diagonal Terms and Oblique Wave Propagation on Calculations of Radiation Belt Electron Fluxes." Fall AGU Meeting, San Francisco, California. (December 10-14, 2007) With Xin Tao, Jay Albert, James Miller

     
     Seminar Speaker
     

    Chan, A. A., Recent Advances in Theory and Observations of Radiation Belt Dynamics, Department Colloquium, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, October 16, 2013.

     
     

    The NASA Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP) Mission: A Preview. Anthony Chan. Space Physics Seminar, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, October 29, 2012.

     
     

    Tips on Preparing for the Physics GRE Exam. Anthony Chan. Society of Physics Students (SPS) Seminar, Rice University, Saturday september 29, 2012.

     
     

    Modeling Wave-Particle Interactions of Relativistic Electrons in Earth’s Radiation Belts. A. A. Chan. Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA. (August 12, 2009)

     
     

    "Modeling Wave-Particle Interactions of Relativistic Electrons in Earth’s Radiation Belts." Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA. (August 12, 2009)

     
     

    "High-Speed-Stream, Storms, Radial Transport, and Stochastic Modeling of the Radiation Belts." Space Physics Seminar, Dartmouth College. (June 17, 2008)

     
     Session Chair
     

    "Radial Transport of Relativistic Electrons During A High-Speed-Stream Storm." IUGG Meeting, Perugia, Italy. (July 2-7, 2007) With Bin Yu, Xin Tao, Scot Elkington, Seth Claudepierre

     
     

    "Recent Results from Theory and Modeling of Radiation Belt Electron Transport, Acceleration, and Loss." Rarotonga Energetic Particle Workshop, Cook Islands. (August 6-10, 2007) With Bin Yu, Xin Tao, Dick Wolf, Scot Elkington, Seth Claudepierre, Jay Albert, Michael Wiltberger

     
     Workshops
     

    "Recent Results from Stochastic Modeling of Radiation Belt Diffusion." NSF GEM Summer Workshop, Snowmass, Colorado. (June 15-20, 2015)

     
     

    "Stochastic Differential Equation (SDE) Modeling of Radiation Belt Dynamics." NASA Van Allen Probes RBSP-ECT Team Meeting, Redondo Beach, California. (September 15-16, 2015)

     
     

    Chan, A. A., L. Zheng, S. R. Elkington, J. M. Albert, 3D SDE Modeling of the Radiation Belts, RBSP-ECT Team Meeting, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, September 17-18, 2013.

     
     

    Chan, A. A., L. Zheng, S. R. Elkington, J. M. Albert, A 3D Radiation Belt Diffusion Model in Adiabatic Invariant Coordinates Using Stochastic Differential Equation Methods. ISSI Workshop, Bern, Switzerland, March 18-22, 2013.

     
     

    Elkington, S. R. and A. A. Chan, MHD wave mode structure, azimuthal distribution, and energetic particle dynamics in the outer zone radiation belts.  Presented at the 2013 THEMIS/ARTEMIS Science Working Group Meeting, Fairbanks, Alaska, March 2013.

     
     

    Chan, A. A., L. Zheng, J. M. Albert, S. R. Elkington, J. Koller, S. A. Glauert, R. B. Horne, N. P. Meredith, Recent results from 3-D modeling of radiation belt diffusion using stochastic methods. GEM Workshop, Snowmass, Colorado, June 17-21, 2013.

     
     

    Zheng, L., A. A. Chan, S. R. Elkington, J. M. Albert, Three-dimensional stochastic modeling of radiation belts in adiabatic invariant coordinates. GEM Workshop, Snowmass, Colorado, June 17-21, 2013.

     
     

    Radial Transport in the Radiation Belts: Recent Results and Open Questions. Anthony Chan, Scot Elkington, Josef Koller, Ian Mann, Jonathan Rae, Louis Ozeke, and Jay Albert, GEM Workshop, Snowmass, Colorado, USA, 18-22 June 2012.

     

     
     

    Stochastic Solution of the 2D Radiation Belt Electron Diffusion Equation Using Adiabatic Invariant Coordinates. Liheng Zheng, Anthony Chan, Xin Tao, and Jay Albert. GEM Workshop, Snowmass, Colorado, USA, 18-22 June 2012.

     
     

    How can radiation belt local acceleration and loss be added to MHD-particle simulations? Anthony Chan and Scot Elkington. CISM Workshop, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, Sep 21-23, 2011.

     
     

    Simulation of Radiation Belt Wave-Particle Interactions Using MHD-SDE Methods. A. A. Chan, S. R. Elkington, and J. M. Albert. IUGG Assembly, Melbourne, Australia, June 28 - July 7, 2011.

     
     

    ULF Power Spectral Densities and Radial Diffusion Coefficients for a High-Speed-Stream Storm. Yen-fei Chen, Anthony Chan, Scot Elkington, Josef Koller, Jonathan Rae, Ian Mann, Louis Ozeke, Kyle Murphy. GEM Workshop, Santa Fe, New Mexico, June 26 - July 1, 2011.

     
     

    MHD-Particle Simulations of Radiation Belt Dynamics. A. A. Chan, S. R. Elkington, Yen-Fei Chen, Bin Yu. NASA RBSP-ECT Team Meeting, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA. (February 11, 2010)

     
     

    Radial Diffusion of Radiation Belt Electrons During High-Speed-Stream Storms: Preliminary Results. Faye Yen-Fei Chen, Anthony Chan, Josef Koller, Jonathan Rae, Ian Mann, Louis Ozeke, Scot Elkington, GEM Workshop, Snowmass Village, Colorado, June 20-25, 2010.

     
     

    "SDE and Layer Methods for Solving Multidimensional Diffusion Equations." NSF Geospace Environment Modeling Workshop, Zermatt, Utah. (June 23-27, 2008) With X. Tao, J. Albert, and J. Miller

     
     

    "Simulations of Radial Transport in the Radiation Belts." NASA LWS TR&T team meeting, LASP, Boulder, Colorado. (May 14-17, 2007) With Bin Yu, Dick Wolf, Scot Elkington

     
    Supervised Theses & Dissertations
     Bin Yu, Ph.D. Simulations of Dynamics of Radiation Belt Electrons During Geomagnetic Storms Driven by High Speed Solar Wind Streams. (2007) (Thesis or Dissertation Director)

     Xin Tao, Ph.D. Hamiltonian Theory and Stochastic Simulation Methods for Radiation Belt Dynamics. (2009) (Thesis or Dissertation Director)

     Liheng Zheng, Ph.D. Development and Application of Stochastic Methods for Radiation Belt Simulations. (2015) (Thesis or Dissertation Director)

    Awards, Prizes, & Fellowships
     Distinguished Faculty Associate of Martel College, Rice University (2015),

     Distinguished Faculty Associate of Martel College, Rice University (2014),

     Distinguished Faculty Associate of Martel College, Rice University (2013),

     Outstanding Faculty Associate of Martel College, Rice University (2012),

     Distinguished Faculty Associate of Martel College, Rice University (2011),

     Distinguished Faculty Associate of Martel College, Rice University (2010),

     Outstanding Faculty Associate of Martel College, Rice University (2009),

     Distinguished Faculty Associate of Martel College, Rice University (2008),

     Distinguished Faculty Associate of Martel College (2007), Rice University

     Outstanding Faculty Associate of Martel College (2006), Rice University

     Distinguished Faculty Associate of Martel College (2005), Rice University

     Distinguished Faculty Associate of Martel College (2004), Rice University

    Positions Held
     Member, ISSI International Team on The Earth's Radiation Belts: Physical Processes and Dynamic Modeling, International Space Science Institute (ISSI), Bern, Switzerland. (2012 - 2013)

     Deputy Scientific Organizer, Panel on Radiation Belt Environment Models: Wave and Particle Dynamics. COSPAR 2010, Bremen, Germany. (2010 - 2010)

     Co-Investigator, ECT (Energetic Particle, Composition, and Thermal Plasma) team, NASA Radiation Belt Storm Probe (RBSP) spacecraft mission. (2012 - 2015)

      Research Area Coordinator (RAC), Inner Magnetosphere and Storms, Geospace Environment Modeling (GEM) Program, National Science Foundation. (2010 - 2015)

     Member, National Academy Committee on Solar and Space Physics (CSSP). (2005 - 2005)