My Research

Research interests

Here is a brief list of my general research interests:

  • Space Weather
  • Energetic Particle Transport
  • Solar-Terrestrial Physics
  • Particle Acceleration
  • Coronal Mass Ejections and Solar Flares

My Current Research

My current research focusses on the tranport of Solar Energetic Particles (SEPs) within the heliosphere. SEPs are high-energy, charged particles that originate from solar flares or shock fronts associated with coronal mass ejections. When SEPs reach Earth, they pose a serious radiation risk for humans who may find themselves in space and outside of the Earth's protective shields of the atmosphere or magnetosphere. Because of these hazards, SEPs are an important component of Space Weather, and there are ongoing efforts to attempt to predict or forecast these events.

Currently, I am working on improving the Forecasting of SEP Events, through modelling the events using a test-particle approach. The current version of the SPEC SEP model uses a basic, Parker Spiral magnetic field to propagate test SEP particles through. My job is to, instead of the Parker Spiral, use a more realistic heliospheric magnetic field to propagate the SEPs through. For this purpose, I am using magnetic and electric fields deduced from a 3-D magnetohydrodynamical solar wind model called ENLIL, and working on developing the model further to allow the particles to propagate through these fields. The reason for this is that ENLIL incorperates typical solar wind structures, such as co-rotating interaction regions, and also more inhomogenities in the magnetic and electric fields which are likely to increase particle scattering.

Previously to this, I have worked on solar wind forecasting and whether an in-situ solar wind detector at Lagrangian Point 5 would improve our forecasting capabilities. My PhD was on the topic of Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCRs) which are extremely high energy particles originating from outside of our solar system. I focussed on how GCRs are modulated by changes in the solar wind and associated heliospheric magnetic field. One key finding was that GCRs reaching Earth can be influence by remote coronal mass ejections. To find out more about my work, please feel free to visit my publications page and follow the links.