Office: CAS 604
Phone: +1 617 353 1531
Fax: +1 617 353 6463
Email: withers@bu.edu
Research Interests:
My main area of research is the upper atmosphere and ionosphere of planets.
I analyze data and develop theoretical models to discover how solar flux,
a neutral atmosphere, magnetic fields, and an ionosphere interact under
the unique conditions of each planet. I am also actively involved in
suppporting the operations of accelerometer and radio science instruments.
I have a range of potential projects available in these areas
for interested students.
I defended my PhD dissertation in March 2003. The dissertation is available online, as are a long CV, a 3 page CV, a 2 page CV, a 1 page CV.
Resources:
Link to publicly-available Mars Express SPICAM data.
Publicly-available software for
analyzing accelerometer data from the atmospheric entries of spacecraft.
Atmospheric profiles (density, pressure, temperature)
derived from accelerometer measurements during the
atmospheric entries of Spirit and Opportunity.
Results and software from Withers and Smith (2006).
Data products and documentation as delivered to the PDS (January 2008).
Rapid data
products from the ODY ACC experiment generated in support of MRO
aerobraking (January 2006).
Preliminary data
products from the ODY ACC experiment (December 2007).
Updated data
products from the ODY ACC experiment.
As delivered to the PDS (December 2008).
Students Mentored:
Katy Fallows,
Boston University Astronomy PhD student (2011 - present).
Zachary Girazian,
Boston University Astronomy PhD student (2010 - present).
Investigating unusual features in the ionosphere of Mars
Majd Matta,
Boston University Astronomy PhD student (2007 - present).
Modelling the effects of magnetic fields on the martian ionosphere -
Jointly supervised with Professor Michael Mendillo
Dane Sarcone,
Boston University ECE undergraduate
research assistant (2009).
Jeffrey Russo,
Boston University Astronomy undergraduate
research assistant (2008 - present).
Comparison of SPICAM and aerobraking accelerometer measurements of the martian
upper atmosphere
Robert Pratt,
Boston University Astronomy undergraduate
research assistant (2008 - present).
The effects of thermal tides on SPICAM measurements of the
martian atmosphere
Anthony Lollo,
Boston University Astronomy undergraduate
research assistant (2008 - 2010).
Numerical simulations of the martian ionosphere -
Jointly supervised with Professor Michael Mendillo
Bob Lombardi,
Boston University Astronomy undergraduate
research assistant (2006 - 2007).
Comparative modelling of planetary ionospheres -
Jointly supervised with Professor Michael Mendillo
Anthony Lollo,
Boston University Center for Space Physics
staff researcher (2010 - present).
Teaching Experience:
Taught AS101 Introduction to the Solar System to
43 Boston University students during Fall, 2010.
AS101 teaching materials
Taught AS699 Teaching College Astronomy to
2 Boston University students during Fall, 2010.
Taught AS101 Introduction to the Solar System to
18 Boston University students during Summer Session 1, 2006.
AS101 teaching materials
AS101 student evaluations
Teaching Assistant for
Jonathan Lunine's NATS 102 class, University of Arizona, fall 2000.
Teaching Assistant for John Lewis's NATS 101
class, University of Arizona, fall 1999.
Recent Papers:
Withers and Catling
(2010)
Observations of atmospheric tides at the season and latitude of
the Phoenix atmospheric entry,
Geophysical Research Letters, 37, L24204, doi:10.1029/2010GL045382
158K
PDF
Lillis, Brain, England, Withers, Fillingim, and Safaeinili
(2010)
Total electron content in the Mars ionosphere:
Temporal studies and dependence on solar EUV flux,
Geophysical Research Letters, 115, A11314, doi:10.1029/2010JA015698
1.9M
PDF
Withers
(2010)
Trajectory and atmospheric structure from entry probes: Demonstration of a
real-time reconstruction technique using a simple direct-to-Earth radio link,
Planetary and Space Science, 58, 2044-2049
603K
PDF
Opgenoorth, Dhillon, Rosenqvist, Lester, Edberg, Milan, Withers and Brain
(2010)
Dayside ionospheric conductivities at Mars,
Planetary and Space Science, 58, 1139-1151
1.4M
PDF
Withers
(2010)
Prediction of uncertainties in atmospheric properties measured by radio
occultation experiments,
Advances in Space Research, 46, 58-73
597K
PDF
Hathi, Ball, Colombatti, Ferri, Leese, Towner, Withers, Fulchigioni
and Zarnecki
(2009)
Huygens HASI servo accelerometer: A review and lessons learned,
Planetary and Space Science, 57, 1321-1333
1.7M
PDF
Withers
(2009)
A review of observed variability in the dayside ionosphere of
Mars, Advances in Space Research, 44, 277-307
3.1M
PDF
Paetzold, Tellmann, Haeusler, Bird, Tyler, Christou and Withers
(2009)
A sporadic layer in the Venus lower ionosphere of meteoric origin,
Geophysical Research Letters, 36, L05203, doi:10.1029/2008GL035875
253K
PDF
Have a look at some more of my papers, projects, presentations,
proposals, and piffle.