New Techniques for Magnetic Field Measurements in the Inner Heliosphere

The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) offers unique research opportunities to highly-talented scientists to engage in ongoing NASA research projects at a NASA Center, NASA Headquarters, or at a NASA-affiliated research institute. These one- to three-year fellowships are competitive and are designed to advance NASA's missions in space science, Earth science, aeronautics, space operations, exploration systems, and astrobiology. This specific opportunity focuses on variability of the Sun-Earth system driven by solar magnetism. The research involves developing new techniques for measuring magnetic field strength in the corona and inner heliosphere using shock stand-off distance and flux rope from eruption data (FRED), as well as Faraday rotation of spacecraft signals. The research includes design studies and laboratory experiments to make the Faraday rotation technique usable in various space situations including multiple spacecraft transmitting and receiving in 1-au orbits around the Sun.