Dr. Georgia Richardson
Assistant Professor
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
University of Alabama in Huntsville

Research

CFD Research

Constraining Maxwell's Equations: The divergence of the magnetic field is not constrained numerically even though it is analytically. We are developing a mathematical structure for the governing equations that will enforce this constraint independent of the numerical method used to solve the equations.

Relativistic Jets: We are actively simulating scenarios for relativistic jet formation from the inflow of material around a black hole. These simulations are GRMHD and three dimensional.

Nishikawa, K.-I., Richardson, G. A., Koide, S., Shibata, K., Kudoh, T., Hardee, P., and Preece, R., 3-Dimensional General Relativistic Magnetohydrodynamics Simulations of Jet Formation, ApJ, 625, 60 (2005).

NASA High Altitude Balloon Projects

DSTB Balloon Photos

BalloonSat Photos

DSTB Student Payload: We are attempting to measure, for the first time, the skin temperature of a high altitude balloon. These balloons are flown by NASA to approximately 130,000 feet, the upper edge of the atmosphere. The balloon temperature fluctuations have a direct impact on the stability of the balloon's altitude and performance. Our experiment is one of several being flown on the MSFC Deep Space Test Bed engineering test flight this summer. The DSTB gondola is shown on the right.

Huntsville Times Press Release

UAH Press Release

NASA Press Release

NASA Scientific Balloon Facility

(Photo credit: Dennis Gallagher MSFC)

National Research Council Research Associate (May 2001 - May 2004):

Computational Fluids: Research includes the development and application of numerical simulation techniques to study astrophysical fluids. Specifically, research includes the development of a magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) code written in C++ for general relativistic plasma simulations. The aim of this work is to investigate the dynamics of fluids surrounding systems containing black holes including relativistic jet formation and wind dynamics. This research is being done with collaborators at UAH and MSFC.

Thermal/Electrical/Mechanical Telescope Design: Hardware development for the SZA (Sunyaev-Zel’dovich Array) ground based radio telescope array is was performed. Appropriate Gaussian optical components for microwave detectors have been designed as part of this project. Additionally, embedded Java and C programming as well as the design of electrical circuits and other hardware is being performed for the development of a highly accurate solid state thermal control system for the desert based telescopes. This research was done with collaborators at MSFC, University of Chicago, Cal Tech, and Columbia University.

Senior Research Associate, University of Alabama – Huntsville (January 2001 - May 2001):

System Engineering Support: During this time frame, system engineering support was given for the GLAST Burst Monitor (GBM), a space based telescope managed at MSFC and scheduled to launch in 2007. Support primarily included the identification, suggested corrective actions and documentation of system risk issues in the areas of thermal and mechanical engineering.

Graduate Research Assistant, University of Alabama – Huntsville:

Computational Fluid Dynamics: The primary research done during this Ph.D. program, was the development of a general relativistic C++ code used to perform simulations of astrophysical fluids. The project included the derivation of the appropriate general relativistic equations with the addition of ‘non-ideal’ physics for which the equations were not available in published literature. Additionally, development of the numerical method used for this project in a form suitable for solving this type of equation was done. Code development and testing was performed to ensure the validity of the method. Applications included the dynamics of fluid interactions with stationary and rotating black holes.

Thermal/Mechanical Space Telescope Design: The design of the thermal control system for the proposed space based gamma-ray telescope FiberGLAST was done as part of this project. FiberGLAST was a major competitor for NASA’s GLAST mission. This thermal design study included the finite element thermal design for the scientific payload and various materials and mechanical studies.

Experimental Physics: Scientific research using high-energy astrophysics data from the BATSE experiment was performed during this time frame. BATSE was an MSFC managed space based gamma-ray detector onboard NASA’s Compton Gamma Ray Observatory. Data analysis (including statistical analysis), daily instrument operations and independent research were performed. Studies were carried out on phenomena such as gamma-ray bursts, transient galactic sources, terrestrial lightning events, and solar flares.

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