NRL Space Physics Simulation Chamber Personnel
Bill Amatucci
Bill
B.S. Saint
Vincent College (1986)
M.S. West Virginia University
(1991)
Ph.D. West Virginia University
(1994)
Dr. Amatucci is a research physicist in the Charged Particle Physics Branch of the NRL Plasma Physics Division. His thesis work was an experimental investigation of ion-cyclotron turbulence generated in the presence of transverse velocity shear and magnetic-field-aligned currents. His thesis advisor was Dr. M. E. Koepke at West Virginia University. Since joining the Naval Research Laboratory in 1994, he has been responsible for an NRL Space Physics Simulation Chamber investigation of the dynamics and energization associated with velocity-shear layers. His participation in other experimental work at NRL includes development of a novel technique for the rapid acquisition of electron temperature, studies of methods for the grounding of highly charged spacecraft, studies of the effects of neutral gas releases on plasma environment near spacecraft, and the design and development of microwave and hot filament plasma sources. He is a member of the American Geophysical Union, the American Physical Society, and the International Union of Radio Science (URSI).
| Dr. Bill Amatucci Plasma Physics Division, Code 6755 Naval Research Laboratory Washington, DC 20375 |
Phone: (202) 404-1022 Fax: (202) 767-3553 E-mail: amatucci@ccf.nrl.navy.mil |
Dave Walker
Dave at the 1997 IPELS meeting
B.S. University
of Maryland (1965)
M.S. University of New Hampshire (1972)
Ph.D. University of New Hampshire (1975)
Dr. Walker is a research physicist in the Charged Particle Physics Branch of the NRL Plasma Physics Division. He has been active in beam-plasma physics and the physics of high-latitude particle acceleration mechanisms. His thesis was a theoretical/numerical study of auroral particle acceleration mechanisms under Professor R. L. Kaufmann at the University of New Hampshire. Since joining the NRL in 1976, he has been responsible for the investigation of beam-plasma interactions both in space and laboratory environments. Experimentation includes plasma wave and instability studies, the design and development of microwave plasma sources for simulation experimentation, studies of space vehicle charging, studies of the effects of neutral gas releases on charging environments and design and experimentation related to nonlinear particle dynamics. Past experience includes serving as the Principal NRL Investigator to a Neutral Particle Beam experimental effort in collaboration with Los Alamos National Lab. The NRL contribution concerned plasma diagnostic measurements (ne, Te) and effects (instabilities, electrostatic wave propagation, etc.) associated with the operation of a 2 MeV neutral particle beam accelerator in a space environment; NRL supplied three successfully operated instruments for that flight. In addition, he has served as Principal Investigator for an NRL Langmuir probe instrument in the ARCS-I program; a joint University of Minnesota, University of New Hampshire, and NRL investigation to study ion beam propagation in the auroral ionosphere. He is a member of the American Geophysical Union, the American Physical Society, the International Union of Radio Science (URSI), and the American Institute of Physics. He has also served on a number of scientific panels including a NASA peer review related to the Tethered Satellite System.
| Dr. David N. Walker Plasma Physics Division, Code 6755 Naval Research Laboratory Washington, DC 20375 |
Phone: (202) 767-2248 Fax: (202) 767-3553 E-mail: dwalker@ccf.nrl.navy.mil |
Dwight Duncan
Sachs-Freeman
Associates, Inc.
Mr. Duncan is a contract employee from Sachs-Freeman Associates, Inc. in Largo, MD. He provides the main experimental support for the NRL SPSC Facility. Hehas designed and build several microwave and filamental plasma sources for the SPSC. Before coming to NRL, he worked at the University of Maryland on the Gyroklystron project. At home, he also pursues his experimental interests by building Tesla coils, such as the 3 kW magnifier shown here. In the foreground (right) is an RF transformer and the resonator (a 6"×24" dryer duct torus) is to the rear.
| Mr. Dwight Duncan Sachs-Freeman Associates, Inc. Plasma Physics Division, Code 6755 Naval Research Laboratory Washington, DC 20375 |
Phone: (202) 404-1019 Fax: (202) 767-3553 E-mail: duncand@ccf.nrl.navy.mil |
