Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD)
I did a 1-year postdoctoral researcher and system engineering hybrid role at Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, CO starting in July of 2022. I worked with Dr. Don Hassler on the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD) to study the effects of the sun on the Mars radiation environment. I learned a lot about heliophysics at Southwest and about how different solar observatory spacecraft can be used to track the propagation of solar storms in our solar system. I greatly enjoyed working on this project but soon found that heliophysics is really hard and missed working more on planetary science and instrumentation development.
See instrument page here and an open job rec here!
Mars lacks a significant magnetic field and atmosphere to protect it from the effects of solar particles. The MSL RAD on Mars is capable of detecting various types of particles in an effort to assess the effects of radiation on the surface of Mars. The background dose rate on Mars is closely tied to the solar cycle, meaning that the sun’s 11 year cycle dramatically effects RAD’s measurements. Additionally, solar energetic particle (SEP) events (usually caused by massive solar storms consisting of coronal mass ejections and solar flares) can affect the radiation dose on the surface of Mars.
Publications/Presentations
B. Ehresmann, D. Hassler, C. Zeitlin, L.E. Heffern, R.F. Wimmer-Schweingruber, J. Guo, T. Berger, D. Matthiae and G. Reitz, “Solar Energetic Particle Events observed with MSL/RAD on the surface of Mars,” SH44A-03, AGU 2022.