Focusing Optics X-ray Solar Imager (FOXSI) - Sounding rocket missionFOXSI-3

Sounding rocket experiment to perform imaging and spectroscopy of the Sun in hard X-rays (HXR) using direct focusing X-ray optics.

• Lead role in planning and executing tests and calibration of focal plane X-ray detectors for the third flight, FOXSI-3.
  • 2017 SPIE article on improved calibration for FOXSI detectors spanchap
• Combined differential emission measure (DEM) analysis of solar microflares observed during FOXSI-2 flight using data SDO/AIA and Hinode/XRT.
  • Preliminary results presented at AGU 2017 spanchap
• Development of charge transport model to understand spectral response and support calibration data for FOXSI detectors.

==== Chandrayaan-1 X-ray Spectrometer (C1XS) - X-ray fluorescence experiment onboard Chandrayaan-1 ==== ESA/RAL, UK, Indian Space Research Organization. (ISRO), India

X-ray fluorescence experiment on India's first Moon mission, Chandrayaan-1, to study the surface chemistry of the Moon.

• Development and validation of X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) inversion algorithm x2abundance
• X-ray spectral analysis of C1XS data & determination of lunar abundances.
  • Link to my PhD thesis https://goo.gl/pAk5tV
• First direct evidence of enhanced Sodium abundances on the lunar surface - C1XS results https://goo.gl/pkwXnB
• Nature Asia article on C1XS results - “High surface sodium may rewrite lunar history” - https://goo.gl/5d0Bj7

• National Merit Scholarship, University Grants Commission, India : 2003-2005
• Department of Science and Technology (DST) Research Fellowship : 2008-2009
• ISRO - IIA Research Fellowship : 2009-2015
• LPI Career Development Award : Lunar & Planetary Institute, NASA, USRA : 2014
• K. D. Abhyankar Best Thesis Presentation Award : Astronomical Society of India. : 2016

Email: spanchap@.umn.edu, athray@gmail.com

Phones: (612) 814-5739

Office : Tate Building, Room 264 (office), 255 (lab)