Peter Becker, Professor of Astrophysics and Space Sciences, received funding for: "Scientific Support in Solar Physics, Remote Sensing, Space Weather, High-Energy Astrophysics, and Associated Scientific Fields."
As part of this project, Mason researchers will conduct research in collaboration with the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL).
Areas covered by this research include: space sciences research (encompassing solar physics and studies of the integrated Sun-Earth system); computational physics and computational fluid dynamics; high-energy astrophysics; instrumentation design, development, and calibration; and remote sensing and climate issues relevant for naval operations.
The effort will involve utilization of state-of-the-art data mining, analysis, and simulation codes and techniques; application of advanced mathematical analysis methods; and the development and utilization of web-based distributed data products.
"The research funded under this program is of critical importance for expanding our understanding of high-energy phenomena occurring throughout the universe. The research has a special focus on high-energy plasma phenomena occurring in the atmosphere of the sun, which can power large flares and coronal mass ejection events that can radically impact radio communications on Earth," Becker said.
Becker received $13,600,000 from the Naval Research Laboratory for this project. Funding began in May 2023 and will end in May 2028.
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