Skip Navigation
Search
College of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Electrical and Computer Engineering

The Future: Space Weather and Accelerator Training

Satellite
 

Space weather refers to the variation in the flow of high-energy particles in space, originating from the sun and outside the solar system. This weather can degrade or damage spacecraft electronics. As we enter a new age with an increased presence in space, understanding the effect of radiation on electronics and mitigation strategies becomes crucial.

The most common approach to gain this understanding involves simulating space weather radiation on Earth using particle accelerators. Despite its widespread use, a shortage of facilities and trained personnel currently exists. Plans are underway to create new facilities, including an expansion at Long Island’s Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL). This expansion will provide the radiation community with thousands of additional hours for experimental testing, aligning with the growing demand for space operations.

Addressing the shortage of trained accelerator personnel, the “Stony Brook University Ernest Courant Traineeship in Accelerator Science and Engineering” offers a solution. This program, funded by a Department of Energy grant and run by the Center for Accelerator Science Education (a joint venture between Stony Brook University and BNL), trains graduate students in particle accelerator technology.

The Department of Energy acknowledges this program as a workforce development effort. Students can earn a certificate in this field after completing 12 credits of work. Some Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) students have already participated in this program. While any Stony Brook graduate student can participate, financial support is available for US citizens and permanent residents. This workforce development effort addresses a national need.

For the articles on space weather and the Courant Traineeship program co-authored by ECE
Faculty Brown and Robertazzi, please visit this link:
https://higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com/APS/9cf62627-7088-4bd3-bf97 6adfc913f623/UploadedImages/APS_DPB_Newsletter_2023_final_2.pdf