Luke Sollitt
1139 Blanche St. (626) 584-6757
Pasadena, Ca 91106
Objective:
To work on interesting problems in a challenging environment; to develop new paradigms and techniques to solve these problems.
Education
Ph.D., Physics Expected June 2003
California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California
Thesis topic: Charge States of Solar Energetic Ions and Implications for Particle Acceleration in Solar Energetic Particle Events
M.S., Physics June, 1999
California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California
B.S. with High Honors, Physics May, 1997
University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
B.A., German Language and Literature August, 1990
University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
Work Experience
Graduate Research Assistant July 1997 to present
Space Radiation Lab, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California
Conducting analyses of solar particle data from the Advanced Composition Explorer spacecraft for my thesis.
Give talks for conferences and meetings
Papers published in the Proceedings of the 26th and 27th International Cosmic Ray Conferences.
Undergraduate Research Assistant January 1996 - May 1997
University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland; Physics Department, and UMD Space Systems Laboratory
- For Space Systems Laboratory, assisted with the development of neutral buoyancy robotic testbeds for space systems, and as a SCUBA diver, helped in underwater testing of these prototypes in SSL’s Neutral Buoyancy Research Facility
- For the Physics Department, assisted in the construction of the Milagro air shower detector at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, and assisted in the operation of the Super-Kamiokande neutrino detector in Japan
Teaching Assistant September 1996-May 1997
University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland; Physics Department
Participated in discussion sections in an experimental approach to teaching basic physics
Graded work sets done in these experimental sections
Led lab sessions in a new course in basic experimental techniques for physics majors.
Revenue Officer April 1991- August 1995
Internal Revenue Service, Los Angeles, CA and AC/International, Washington, DC
Conducted investigations into delinquent taxpayers, bringing them into compliance with Federal tax obligations. In addition to using various administrative tools to enforce compliance, I also met and negotiated with taxpayers, corporations, and their representatives. Duties were first with taxpayers and corporations in the Los Angeles area; then with taxpayers and corporations abroad with AC/International.
Gave public speeches as a collateral duty
Teaching Assistant/Research Assistant August 1988 - December 1989
Graded papers for various introductory physics courses
Assisted with the operation of the Maryland Spheromak; conducted an independent project
Publications
Sollitt et al, “Trans-Nickel Elements in Solar Energetic Particles”, Proceedings of the 26th International Cosmic Ray Conference, 1999.
Sollitt et al, “The Disappearance of Anomalous Cosmic Rays at 1 AU with Increasing Solar Modulation”, Proceedings of the 27th International Cosmic Ray Conference, 2001
Coursework
The standard physics diet of Goldstein (mechanics), Jackson (electrodynamics), Kittel and Kroemer (statistical dynamics), Shankar for quantum mechnics (as well as Griffiths), Peskin and Schroeder (quantum field theory); also courses in fluid dynamics, basic magnetohydrodynamics, relativity, group theory, circuits, nuclear physics, space physics and astronomy, and various lab courses mostly derived from Melissinos.
Non-physics courses have included work in (among other things) medieval history, several ancient and modern languages, Greek philosophy, and spacecraft human factors systems engineering.