Welcome

This is the homepage of the Solar-Heliospheric Research Group at the University of Michigan. We study the physics of the Sun and the heliosphere through theory, data analysis and space instrumentation. Visiting our Missions, Science, and Technology sections will give you a better idea of the kind of work we do.

News

Ulysses to End Mission Today

30 Jun 2009 -- Ulysses was launched in 1990 as a joint ESA/NASA mission and embarked on a unique orbit that took it up to high latitudes where it was able to sample the space environment influenced by processes in the Sun's polar regions. Ulysses provided ground breaking measurements of the global nature of the heliospheric magnetic field and particle acceleration and transport, in addition to enabling characterization of the fast and slow solar wind. For more information, please visit this link.

Become a Fan of the Solar and Heliospheric Research Group on Facebook

26 Jun 2009 -- Show your support for the University of Michigan Solar and Heliospheric Research Group by becoming a fan on facebook! Click here to view the page.

Three New Fellowships Awarded for the 2009/2010 Academic Year

23 Jun 2009 -- Three graduate students in our group won fellowships for the 2009/2010 Academic Year: Jim Raines and Dan Gershman won Graduate Student Research Program (GSRP) fellowships and Liang Zhao won the NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship.

Jim’s proposal is entitled “Ions from Mercury:  Magnetosphere, Sputtering and Transport” with advisor Dr. James A. Slavin, Director of Heliophysics Science Division, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.  He proposed the development of new analysis methods for MESSENGER/FIPS plasma data, study of Mercury exospheric heavy ion thermalization and measurement of these ions at L1 with our ACE/SWICS instrument. Dan’s proposal is about “New Operating Mode for Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer” with advisor Dr. Paul Mahaffy, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.  He will be working on creating on improving the performance of existing quadrupole mass spectrometers through amplitude modulation of the power supply voltages. And Liang’s proposal focuses on “the Current Unusual Solar Minimum” with advisor Prof. Len Fisk in our group. She has been working on both data analysis and theory development about this on-going solar minimum and trying to solve the puzzle: why this solar minimum is so unusual.

Justin Edmondson Accepts NASA Postdoctoral Fellowship

1 Jun 2009 -- On June 1, 2009, Justin Edmondson accepted a NASA Postdoctoral Program fellowship with the Space and Astrophysical Plasmas research group at JPL. Beginning in late September 2009, he will work with Dr. Marco Velli at JPL and the University of Florence, Italy, on magnetic reconnection theory and astophysical plasma thermodynamics. Justin has been with the SHRG since May, 2004.