September 2, 2008

Collaborative spirit helps research team travel to the top of the world

Perhaps it's apropos to say that the stars aligned for a recent Purdue-U.S. Air Force mission to Greenland to collect data during the Aug. 1 solar eclipse. Almost two years in the making, the July 28-Aug. 6 trip needed the right location, the right timing and most importantly the right people.

"We worked very hard to make this research trip happen," says Ephraim Fischbach, professor of physics. "We pulled every string and made every possible contact. The fact that all of this could be pulled together and run so smoothly is a miracle. It was a great cooperative effort between Purdue and the Air Force."

Fischbach and Jere Jenkins, Radiation Laboratory director, are studying the possible influence of the sun on radioactive decay.

Solar activity such as solar flares can disrupt communications, satellites, GPS systems and power grids, and poses a threat for astronauts. Discovering whether solar activity changes the rate of radioactive decay could lead to the development of an early warning system, allowing for appropriate protective measures to be taken.

"The solar eclipse essentially turned the sun on and off for us, which is a unique way to get information," Fischbach says. "Because we knew when the eclipse would occur, this provided us with a controlled opportunity to look for any changes to the rates of radioactive decay before, during and after the eclipse."

Looking for support

The journey began almost two years before Fischbach and Jenkins set foot on a plane for a six-hour flight to Thule Air Base in Greenland. The trip to the Air Force's northernmost base required permissions, funding, personnel and transportation that the two could not acquire on their own.

"Going to Thule is not like planning a trip to St. Louis," Fischbach says. "It takes national and international clearance to get to the base. At the same time, Thule was still going to be one of the most accessible spots we could hope for during the eclipse."

Fischback and Jenkins sought the assistance of three Purdue graduates: Col. Michael Silver, Purdue Air Force ROTC commander; Capt. Daniel Javorsek II, pilot in the 416 Flight Test Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base; and Maj. Robert Lee, assistant professor of physics at the United States Air Force Academy. Fischbach served as thesis adviser for Javorsek and sat on the thesis committee for Lee.

The alumni's combined support led to the partnership with the Air Force and Air Force Academy, funding for equipment and a ride from Grissom Air Reserve Base to northwest Greenland. It also added three more members to the team.

"I had a vested interest not only because I work here but because I graduated from Purdue," Silver says. "What makes this whole thing exciting is that it's a project from Purdue, and there are Purdue people in all of these strategic locations who helped make it a success. We're doing something great for science, and Purdue people made it come together."

The team grew to include 15 members, including five ROTC cadets. All five studied over the summer and attended training sessions. Three of the cadets traveled to Greenland to assist with the primary experiment and several secondary experiments brought by faculty and cadets of the Air Force Academy.

The team encountered few technical or logistical surprises, much to the relief of Fischbach and Jenkins.

"The only thing that went wrong was that there were clouds covering the eclipse, so we didn't actually get to see it," Jenkins says. "But what can you do about that? We just watched it get dark and then light behind clouds, and then climbed the ice cap. It was still one of the best moments."

Time for recreation, discussion

The team had a chance to participate in some of the base's recreational activities, including riding go-karts, competing in a base marathon, and taking a polar bear swim. Evenings brought discussions that proved to be another highlight for the group.

"There's so much that you can learn and progress that can be made as a team when you're brainstorming 24 hours a day," Javorsek says. "There were so many times that the discussion would head down a path it wouldn't have taken before, and we'd look at things from a different angle."

Jenkins adds that the discussions benefited the cadets as well.

"It was important for them to be a part of those conversations and ask questions," he says. "They were able to sit and discuss the experiment with us and even add some helpful insights on things."
 
The experience serves as a professional development opportunity and learning experience for the cadets. Cadet Tom Horan, senior in aerospace engineering, says the project gave him insight into being part of a research team, and Christopher Stewart, sophomore in aeronautical engineering, says it offered a look into the future.

"There are a lot Purdue people involved, and we get a glimpse of what they're doing and what opportunities we have available to us," Stewart says. "Being able to ask them questions about how they got to where they are now and how a Purdue degree helped them is an awesome opportunity."

Cadet Mike Petrelli, graduate student in industrial technology, says the experience was one of the most positive of his life.

"The significance of the research, depth of learning, size and complexity of the team, exciting foreign travel and engagement with one's academic institution and future employer Ñ this is every student's dream," he says. "For me, it has also awakened a greater interest in nuclear engineering."

The cadets will assist in analyzing data and co-writing papers as part of a course this semester. It will take months for Jenkins, Fischbach and the cadets to reach any conclusions.

"It's possible that we'll see absolutely nothing unusual, but that's important in physics because it eliminates a possible explanation," Fischbach says. "Eventually, we'll find the answer."

Team members and their affiliations

Of the 15 team members, 11 have Purdue ties:

-- Ephraim Fischbach, professor of physics.

-- Jere Jenkins, director of Radiation Laboratory.

-- Col. Michael Silver, commander of Purdue Air Force ROTC and Purdue graduate.

-- Maj. Robert Lee, Purdue graduate and assistant professor of physics at United States Air Force Academy.

-- Capt. Daniel Javorsek II , Purdue graduate and test pilot in the 416 Flight Test Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base.

-- Tom Gruenwald, Purdue graduate and former chief technical officer at Tellabs.

-- Cadet Michael Petrelli, graduate student in industrial technology.

-- Cadet Thomas Horan, senior in aerospace engineering.

-- Cadet Andrew Hoft, junior in aeronautical engineering.

-- Cadet Christopher Stewart, sophomore in aeronautical engineering.

-- Cadet Jacob Kerford, sophomore in aeronautical engineering.

The team also included:

-- Lt Col. D. Brent Morris, director of faculty development, United States Air Force Academy.

-- Cadet Billy Terry, USAFA.

-- Cadet Ryan Mudry, USAFA.

-- Harvey Willenberg, American Aerospace / NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

The group also had another unexpected bit of Boilermaker support at Thule Air Base. The deputy base commander, Lt. Col. David Arnold, graduated from Purdue in 1989.

"It's been a lot of fun to work with the team and to get 'Boiler up!' at the end of e-mails," Arnold says. "And as a former faculty member at the U.S. Air Force Academy, I feel like I am helping them out, too."

-- From the Aug. 28 edition of Inside Purdue.