Dr. de Nolfo has over 20 years of experience in experimental astrophysics and currently leads a wide range of research on the acceleration and transport of solar energetic particles in addition to instrument development of charged and neutral particle detectors. With over 8+ years of experience developing silicon photomultiplier (SiPM)-based readout for modern scintillators, Dr. de Nolfo has delivered large-area SiPM arrays for the Terrestrial RaYs Analysis Detection (TRYAD), the Ionospheric Neutron Content Analyzer (INCA), and the BurstCube: A CubeSat for Gravitational Wave Counterparts CubeSats. Dr. de Nolfo is PI of a NASA/H-Tides/ITD (Fy17-24) for a novel neutron spectrometer, Solar Neutron TRACking (SONTRAC) spectrometer, based on scintillating fibers and high-resolution arrays SiPMs. Currently, Dr. de Nolfo serves as Deputy Project Scientist for the ACE and STEREO missions and Mission Scientist for the IMAP mission.
Georgia A de Nolfo
(AST, TECHNICAL MANAGEMENT)
| Email: | georgia.a.denolfo@nasa.gov |
| Phone: | 301.286.1512 |
| Org Code: | 101 |
| Address: |
NASA/GSFC Mail Code 672 Greenbelt, MD 20771 |
| Employer: |
Brief Bio
Current Projects
Lunar OutpOst Neutron Spectrometer (LOONS)
Solar Radiation
Lunar scientific outposts offer an opportunity to advance human exploration of space, while serving as both a platform for industrial and scientific research and a gateway to more distant locations. Neutrons can play a significant role in lunar exploration and the science of the Moon and Sun. Specifically, fast neutrons are an egregious form of radiation for crew and avionics. Broadband neutron spectroscopy (covering thermal, epithermal, and fast neutrons) can also serve as an effective probe of regolith composition and in situ resource utilization, including the localization of water-ice. A lunar platform is invaluable for measuring neutrons originating from the Sun. Neutrons constitute a critical missing piece in understanding the production mechanisms of energetic particles at the Sun and the harmful space weather events spawned by such particles. A lunar-based solar neutron observatory would benefit from the long lunar day, with uninterrupted extended observations of the Sun, resulting in an excellent duty cycle for solar measurements. Our lab is developing neutron spectrometers for upcoming lunar/solar opportunities.
Education
B.S. University of Chicago
Ph.D. Washington University, St. Louis
Grants
Origin of the High-Energy Solar Energetic Particles
ROSES Solar and Heliospheric Research - NASA - Awarded: 2014-03-28
Dates: 2014-04-01 - 2017-03-31
Energy Release, Acceleration, and Escape of Solar Energetic Ions
ROSE Solar and Heliospheric Research - NASA - Awarded: 2013-03-15
Dates: 2013-04-18 - 2015-03-20
Constraining the Sources & Acceleration Processes of SEPs
Fermi Guest Investigator - NASA - Awarded: 2010-09-01
Dates: 2010-09-01 - 2011-09-01
New Techniques in Fast Neutron Spectroscopy - NASA/H-tids - Awarded: 2017-04-01
Solar Neutron Tracking (SONTRAC) - NASA/H-tids - Awarded: 2019-04-01
Publications
Refereed
2023. "Direct Measurement of the Spectral Structure of Cosmic-Ray Electrons + Positrons in the TeV Region with CALET on the International Space Station." Physical Review Letters 131 (19): 191001 [10.1103/physrevlett.131.191001] [Journal Article/Letter]
2023. "Statistical Relationship between Long-duration High-energy Gamma-Ray Emission and Solar Energetic Particles." The Astrophysical Journal 953 (2): 187 [10.3847/1538-4357/ace24c] [Journal Article/Letter]
2023. "The 17 April 2021 widespread solar energetic particle event." Astronomy & Astrophysics 674 A105 [10.1051/0004-6361/202345938] [Journal Article/Letter]
2023. "Direct Measurement of the Cosmic-Ray Helium Spectrum from 40 GeV to 250 TeV with the Calorimetric Electron Telescope on the International Space Station." Physical Review Letters 130 (17): 171002 [10.1103/physrevlett.130.171002] [Journal Article/Letter]
2023. "A Living Catalog of Parker Solar Probe IS⊙IS Energetic Particle Enhancements." The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series 264 (2): 31 [10.3847/1538-4365/aca4c8] [Journal Article/Letter]
2022. "SuperTIGER instrument abundances of galactic cosmic rays for the charge interval 41⩽Z⩽56." Advances in Space Research 70 (9): 2666-2673 [10.1016/j.asr.2022.04.063] [Journal Article/Letter]
2022. "Direct Measurement of the Nickel Spectrum in Cosmic Rays in the Energy Range from 8.8 GeV/n to 240 GeV/n with CALET on the International Space Station." Physical Review Letters 128 (13): 131103 [10.1103/physrevlett.128.131103] [Journal Article/Letter]
2022. "EMIC‐Wave Driven Electron Precipitation observed by CALET on the International Space Station." Geophysical Research Letters 49 (6): e2021GL097529 [10.1029/2021gl097529] [Journal Article/Letter]
2022. "Energetic proton back-precipitation onto the solar atmosphere in relation to long-duration gamma-ray flares." Astronomy & Astrophysics 658 A23 [10.1051/0004-6361/202142002] [Journal Article/Letter]
2021. "PSP/IS⊙IS observations of the 29 November 2020 solar energetic particle event." Astronomy & Astrophysics 656 A29 [10.1051/0004-6361/202140967] [Journal Article/Letter]
2021. "Solar energetic particle heavy ion properties in the widespread event of 2020 November 29." Astronomy & Astrophysics 656 L12 [10.1051/0004-6361/202141310] [Journal Article/Letter]
2021. "Energetic Particles Associated with a Coronal Mass Ejection Shock Interacting with a Convected Magnetic Structure." The Astrophysical Journal 921 (2): 102 [10.3847/1538-4357/ac1ce1] [Journal Article/Letter]
2021. "Energetic Electron Observations by Parker Solar Probe/IS⊙IS during the First Widespread SEP Event of Solar Cycle 25 on 2020 November 29." The Astrophysical Journal 919 (2): 119 [10.3847/1538-4357/ac110e] [Journal Article/Letter]
2021. "Modeling the 2012 May 17 Solar Energetic Particle Event Using the AWSoM and iPATH Models." The Astrophysical Journal 919 (2): 146 [10.3847/1538-4357/ac0db9] [Journal Article/Letter]
2021. "Measurement of the Iron Spectrum in Cosmic Rays from 10 GeV/n to 2.0 TeV/n with the Calorimetric Electron Telescope on the International Space Station." Physical Review Letters 126 (24): 241101 [10.1103/physrevlett.126.241101] [Journal Article/Letter]
2020. "Direct Measurement of the Cosmic-Ray Carbon and Oxygen Spectra from 10 GeV/n to 2.2 TeV/n with the Calorimetric Electron Telescope on the International Space Station." Physical Review Letters 125 (25): 251102 [10.1103/physrevlett.125.251102] [Journal Article/Letter]
2020. "Small Electron Events Observed by Parker Solar Probe/IS⊙IS during Encounter 2." The Astrophysical Journal 902 (1): 20 [10.3847/1538-4357/abb2a4] [Journal Article/Letter]
2020. "3D propagation of relativistic solar protons through interplanetary space." Astronomy & Astrophysics 639 A105 [10.1051/0004-6361/201937338] [Journal Article/Letter]
2020. "Small, Low-energy, Dispersive Solar Energetic Particle Events Observed by Parker Solar Probe." The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series 246 65 [10.3847/1538-4365/ab643d] [Journal Article/Letter]
2019. "Comparing Long-duration Gamma-Ray Flares and High-energy Solar Energetic Particles." The Astrophysical Journal 879 (2): 90 [Full Text] [https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ab258f] [Journal Article/Letter]
2019. "Direct Measurement of the Cosmic-Ray Proton Spectrum from 50 GeV to 10 TeV with the Calorimetric Electron Telescope on the International Space Station." Physical Review Letters 122 (18): 181102 [10.1103/physrevlett.122.181102] [Journal Article/Letter]
2019. "The CALorimetric Electron Telescope (CALET) on the International Space Station: Results from the First Two Years On Orbit." Journal of Physics: Conference Series 1181 012003 [10.1088/1742-6596/1181/1/012003] [Proceedings]
2018. "Search for GeV Gamma-Ray Counterparts of Gravitational Wave Events by CALET." The Astrophysical Journal 863 (2): 160 [10.3847/1538-4357/aad18f] [Journal Article/Letter]
2018. "On-orbit operations and offline data processing of CALET onboard the ISS." Astroparticle Physics 100 29-37 [10.1016/j.astropartphys.2018.02.010] [Journal Article/Letter]
2018. "Extended Measurement of the Cosmic-Ray Electron and Positron Spectrum from 11 GeV to 4.8 TeV with the Calorimetric Electron Telescope on the International Space Station." Physical Review Letters 120 (26): 261102 [10.1103/physrevlett.120.261102] [Journal Article/Letter]
2017. "Energy Spectrum of Cosmic-Ray Electron and Positron from 10 GeV to 3 TeV Observed with the Calorimetric Electron Telescope on the International Space Station." Physical Review Letters 119 (18): 181101 [10.1103/physrevlett.119.181101] [Journal Article/Letter]
2017. "Geomagnetically trapped, albedo and solar energetic particles: trajectory analysis and flux reconstruction with PAMELA." Advances in Space Research 60 (4): 788-795 [10.1016/j.asr.2016.06.042] [Journal Article/Letter]
2017. "SIPM use in Future Space Instruments." International Cosmic Ray Conference 35 235 [Journal Article/Letter]
2016. "PAMELA's measurements of geomagnetic cutoff variations during the 14 December 2006 storm." Space Weather 14 (3): 210-220 [10.1002/2016sw001364] [Journal Article/Letter]
2016. "The May 17, 2012 solar event: back-tracing analysis and flux reconstruction with PAMELA." Journal of Physics: Conference Series 675 (3): 032006 [10.1088/1742-6596/675/3/032006] [Journal Article/Letter]
2010. "Observing the High Energy Sun with CGRO/COMPTEL." Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society 41 #404.33- [Journal Article/Letter]
2002. "Measurement of the ultra-heavy galactic cosmic ray abundances with the TIGER instrument." 34th COSPAR Scientific Assembly 34 [Journal Article/Letter]
1995. "Measurement of the μ+/μ- Ratio as a Function of Depth in the Atmosphere." International Cosmic Ray Conference 1 690- [Journal Article/Letter]
1991. "Detection of Micron-sized Particles in Meteor Streams Crossing the Trajectories of the Vega-I and Vega-2 Spacecraft." Lunar and Planetary Institute Science Conference Abstracts 22 313- [Journal Article/Letter]
Non-Refereed
2021. "Investigating the Vela SNR's Emission of Electron Cosmic Rays with CALET at the International Space Station." Proceedings of 37th International Cosmic Ray Conference — PoS(ICRC2021) [10.22323/1.395.0100] [Proceedings]