Maj Daniel J. Emmons, PhD
Senior Military Faculty & Associate Professor of Physics
Senior Military Faculty & Associate Professor of Physics, Department of Engineering Physics, AFIT
Maj Dan Emmons’ research interests include: laser kinetics, plasma chemistry, and the effects of ionospheric disturbances on radio wave propagation.
Education
Ph.D. Applied Physics - 2017
Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
Emphasis: Plasma physics
Dissertation: Analysis of Ar(1s5) metastable populations in high pressure argon-helium gas discharges
M.S. Applied Physics - 2012
Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
Emphasis: Space environment
Thesis: Ensemble forecasting of coronal mass ejections using the WSA-ENLIL with CONED Model
B.S. Physics - 2007
San Diego State University, San Diego, CA
Emphasis: Lasers and Optics
Awards
- 2022 Outstanding Science and Engineering Educator Award, Department of the Air Force
- 2021 Mentorship Excellence Award, Air Force Institute of Technology
- 2021 Faculty and Staff Excellence Award for Strategic Ohio Council for Higher Education (SOCHE)
- 2021 Dean’s Distinguished Teaching Professor, Graduate School of Engineering & Management, Air Force Institute of Technology
Publications
[30] Garland, S. H., V. B. Yurchyshyn, R. D. Loper, B. F. Akers, and D. J. Emmons. "Analysis of modeled 3D solar magnetic field during 30 X/M-class solar flares." Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences 11 (2024): 1369749.
[29] Ellis, J. A., D. J. Emmons, and M. B. Cohen. "Detection and classification of sporadic E using convolutional neural networks." Space Weather 22, no. 1 (2024): e2023SW003669.
[28] Emmons, D.J., D. L. Wu, N. Swarnalingam, A. F. Ali, J. A. Ellis, K. E. Fitch, and K. S. Obenberger. "Improved models for estimating sporadic-E intensity from GNSS radio occultation measurements." Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences 10 (2023): 1327979.
[27] Knisely, A., and D. J. Emmons. "Impacts of Kelvin-Helmholtz Billow Formation on GNSS Radio Occultation Measurements of Sporadic-E." Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences 10 (2023): 1280228.
[26] Shaver, D. J., D. L. Wu, N. Swarnalingam, A. L. Franz, E. V. Dao, and D. J. Emmons. "Comparison of a Bottom-Up GNSS Radio Occultation Method to Measure D-and E-Region Electron Densities with Ionosondes and FIRI." Remote Sensing 15, no. 18 (2023): 4363.
[25] Swarnalingam, N., D. L. Wu, D. J. Emmons, and R. Gardiner-Garden. "Optimal Estimation Inversion of Ionospheric Electron Density from GNSS-POD Limb Measurements: Part II-Validation and Comparison Using NmF2 and hmF2." Remote Sensing 15, no. 16 (2023): 4048.
[24] Wu, D. L., N. Swarnalingam, C. C. J. H. Salinas, D. J. Emmons, T. C. Summers, and R. Gardiner-Garden. "Optimal Estimation Inversion of Ionospheric Electron Density from GNSS-POD Limb Measurements: Part I-Algorithm and Morphology." Remote Sensing 15, no. 13 (2023): 3245.
[23] Joo, J. W., C. A. Rice, D. J. Emmons, and G. Perram. “Population Distributions in Cs Rydberg States after Pulsed Excitation of Cs 62P3/2.” Journal of Directed Energy. (Limited Distribution)
[22] Joo, J. W., D. J. Emmons, C. A. Rice, and G. Perram. “The production of higher lying states after pulsed excitation of Cs 62S1/2 - 62P3/2 Part I: Emission Spectra.” Journal of Directed Energy. (Limited Distribution)
[21] Emmons, D. J., J. W. Joo, and G. Perram. “The production of higher lying states after pulsed excitation of Cs 62S1/2 - 62P3/2 Part II: Kinetic Model.” Journal of Directed Energy. (Limited Distribution)
[20] Knisely, A. J., D. J. Emmons, and A. J. Terzuoli, “Phase Cube Modeling of Ionospheric F-Layer Dipole Flute Instability Effects on High Frequency Propagation,” IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation (2023) doi: 10.1109/TAP.2023.3269537.
[19] Garland, S. H., V. B. Yurchyshyn, R. D. Loper, B. F. Akers, and D. J. Emmons. "Evolution of Coronal Magnetic Field Parameters during X5. 4 Solar Flare." Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences 10 (2023): 1148293.
[18] Hodos, T. J., O. A. Nava, E. V. Dao, and D. J. Emmons. "Global sporadic-E occurrence rate climatology using GPS radio occultation and ionosonde data." Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics: e2022JA030795.
[17] Emmons, D. J., D. L. Wu, and N. Swarnalingam. "A Statistical Analysis of Sporadic-E Characteristics Associated with GNSS Radio Occultation Phase and Amplitude Scintillations." Atmosphere 13, no. 12 (2022): 2098.
[16] Chartier, A. T., T. R. Hanley, and D. J. Emmons. "Long-distance propagation of 162 MHz shipping information links associated with sporadic E." Atmospheric Measurement Techniques 15, no. 21 (2022): 6387-6393.
[15] Emmons, D. J., K. S. Burg, O. A. Nava, E. V. Dao, K. Garcia-Sage, L. Rastaetter, J. Shim, and M. Kuznetsova, “Validation Technique for Modeled Bottomside Ionospheres Using Ray Tracing.” JDR&E 5, no. 2 (2022): 2-14. (Limited Distribution)
[14] Wu, D. L., D. J. Emmons, and N. Swarnalingam. "Global GNSS-RO Electron Density in the Lower Ionosphere." Remote Sensing 14, no. 7 (2022): 1577.
[13] Carmona, R. A., O. A. Nava, E. V. Dao, and D. J. Emmons. "A Comparison of Sporadic-E Occurrence Rates Using GPS
Radio Occultation and Ionosonde Measurements." Remote Sensing 14, no. 3 (2022): 581.
[12] Merriman, D. K., O. A. Nava, E. V. Dao, and D. J. Emmons. "Comparison of Seasonal foEs and fbEs Occurrence Rates Derived from Global Digisonde Measurements." Atmosphere 12, no. 12 (2021): 1558.
[11] Garland, S. H., D. J. Emmons, and Robert D. Loper. "Studying the conditions for magnetic reconnection in solar flares with and without precursor flares." Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics (2021): 105788.
[10] Williams, J. E. S., R. C. Tournay, R. Tseng, D. J. Emmons, and O. A. Nava. "Impact of Hurricane Michael (2018) on local vertical total electron content." Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics 219 (2021): 105647.
[9] Stambovsky, D. W., J. J. Colman, O. A. Nava, and D. J. Emmons. "Simulation of GPS radio occultation signals through Sporadic-E using the multiple phase screen method." Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics 214 (2021): 105538.
[8] Aegerter, T. R. W., D. J. Emmons, and R. D. Loper. "Detection of reconnection signatures in solar flares." Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics 208 (2020): 105375.
[7] Emmons, D. J., E. V. Dao, K. K. Knippling, L. F. McNamara, O. A. Nava, K. S. Obenberger, and J. J. Colman. "Estimating horizontal phase speeds of a traveling ionospheric disturbance from Digisonde single site vertical ionograms." Radio Science 55, no. 8 (2020): e2020RS007089.
[6] Emmons, D. J., and D. E. Weeks. "Steady-State Model of an Argon-Helium High-Pressure Radio Frequency Dielectric Barrier Discharge." IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science 48, no. 8 (2020): 2715-2722.
[5] Gooch, J. Y., J. J. Colman, O. A. Nava, and D. J. Emmons. "Global ionosonde and GPS radio occultation sporadic-E intensity and height comparison." Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics 199 (2020): 105200.
[4] Emmons, D. J., and D. E. Weeks. "Effect of Ar(3p54p; 2p)+M → Ar(3p54s; 1s)+M branching ratio on optically pumped rare gas laser performance." Optics Express 27, no. 24 (2019): 35689-35699.
[3] Emmons, D. J., D. E. Weeks, B. Eshel, and G. P. Perram. "Metastable Ar(1s5) density dependence on pressure and argon-helium mixture in a high pressure radio frequency dielectric barrier discharge." Journal of Applied Physics 123, no. 4 (2018): 043304.
[2] Emmons, D. J., and D. E. Weeks. "Kinetics of high pressure argon-helium pulsed gas discharge." Journal of Applied Physics 121, no. 20 (2017): 203301.
[1] Emmons, D. J., A. Acebal, A. Pulkkinen, A. Taktakishvili, P. MacNeice, and D. Odstrcil. "Ensemble forecasting of coronal mass ejections using the WSA-ENLIL with CONED Model," Space Weather 11, no. 3 (2013): 95-106.
Conference Proceedings and Technical Reports
[6] Fry, C., D. Emmons, J. Stankiewicz, O. Nava., "DoC, DoD, NASA Response for NSW-SAP Actions 2.11.5" Space Weather Operations, Research and Mitigation Subcommittee, July 2021
[5] Codrescu, M., R. Steenburgh, O. Nava, D. Emmons., "DoC, DoD, NASA Response for NSW-SAP Actions 2.11.3," Space Weather Operations, Research and Mitigation Subcommittee, July 2021
[4] Han, J., M. C. Heaven, D. J. Emmons, G. P. Perram, D. E. Weeks, and W. F. Bailey, "Pulsed discharge production Ar* metastables," SPIE LASE, San Francisco, California, pp. 97290D-97290D, International Society for Optics and Photonics, April 2016
[3] Emmons, D. J., A. Nagy, J. Wyche, J. Zohner, and R. Thomas, "Advanced Tactical Laser collateral effects analysis," Proceedings of Fifth Annual Directed Energy Systems Symposium, Monterey, California, Directed Energy Professional Society, April 2010
[2] Emmons, D. J., A. Nagy, J. Wyche, J. Zohner, R. Thomas and E. Early, "Advanced Tactical Laser collateral effects analysis," AFRL-RH-BR-TR-2010-0044, 711th Human Performance Wing Technical Report, May 2010
[1] Zohner, J., A. Nagy, D. Emmons, and R. Thomas., "Results and Analysis of DETEC TREM Acceptance Test," AFRL-RH-BR-TR-2008-0018, Air Force Research Laboratory Technical Report, Nov 2007
Invited Talks and Papers
[8] Emmons D., "Space Weather: Impacts and Monitoring from Sun to Mud." Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, 27 Feb 2024
[7] Emmons D., "Measuring and Characterizing Disturbances in the Earth's Ionosphere." New Mexico Tech, 25 Jan 2024
[6] Emmons D., "Measuring and Characterizing Sporadic-E Disturbances in the Earth's Ionosphere," NASA Marshall Research Seminar, Virtual, Nov 2023
[5] Emmons D., and S. Garland, "Space Weather Briefing," Polar Aeronomy and Radio Science (PARS) Summer School, University of Alaska Fairbanks, August 2023
[4] Emmons D. (lead), R. Ringuette, Y. Zheng, A. Ridley, N. Gross, E. Olsson, V. Trakinski, and R. Walker, “What should CCMC’s education focus be?” NASA Community Coordinated Modeling Center (CCMC) Community Workshop, The Hotel at the University of Maryland, June 2022
[3] Emmons D., “Ionospheric Impacts to Human Activities on Earth,” American Meteorological Society Annual Meeting, Virtual, Jan 2022
[2] Emmons D., “Sporadic-E Formation, Measurements, and Occurrence Rates,” Subauroral Geophysical Observatory Fall Seminar, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Oct 2021
[1] Emmons D., "AFIT View of CCMC," NASA Community Coordinated Modeling Center (CCMC) Community Workshop, The Hotel at the University of Maryland, April 2018