Positions

Research Areas research areas

Overview

  • Our technology-driven society is dependent upon satellite technology for communication, navigation, and national security, as well as upon a reliable power grid for everyday needs such as money transactions, job functions, and food storage. These infrastructure systems are vulnerable to geomagnetic activity, when charged particles in the space surrounding Earth are energized and transported due to energy input from the Sun. My research centers on studying these charged particles during enhanced geomagnetically active events to improve our understanding of and eventually be able to forecast the characteristics of space during them. Such improved space weather forecasts would provide a reliable warning system to protect satellite and power grid infrastructure.

    My research includes three areas: magnetospheric physics, instrument development, and laboratory plasma physics. In magnetospheric physics, I analyze satellite-based data to understand the dynamics of the magnetosphere during geomagnetic storms. These data are often incorporated with computer models to improve understanding of the underlying physics. I am working to develop the next generation of plasma spectrometers to measure charged particles in space, particularly on small platforms such as CubeSats. The spectrometer is also being developed as a diagnostic for fusion energy producing plasma research. I am also involved in laboratory based plasma physics research, particularly with laser-based diagnostics. These studies help us to understand space-relevant phenomena.
  • Selected Publications

    Academic Article

    Year Title
    2024 Space Weather Forecasts of Ground Level Space Weather in the UK: Evaluating Performance and LimitationsSpace Weather.  22. 2024
    2024 Merging Mesoscale Magnetotail Features and Ground B‐Field Perturbation Network Connectivity During Substorm ActivityJournal of Geophysical Research.  129. 2024
    2024 Demonstration of a Multi‐Layer, Lithographically Manufactured Plasma SpectrometerJournal of Geophysical Research.  129. 2024
    2023 Multiscale Magnetosphere‐Ionosphere Coupling During Stormtime: A Case Study of the Dawnside Current WedgeJournal of Geophysical Research.  128. 2023
    2023 Probabilistic Forecasting of Ground Magnetic Perturbation Spikes at Mid‐Latitude StationsSpace Weather.  21. 2023
    2022 Automated Detection Algorithm for Mesoscale Heated Regions in TWINS Ion Temperature Maps.Journal of Geophysical Research.  127:e2022JA030464. 2022
    2022 A Survey of Uncertainty Quantification in Machine Learning for Space Weather PredictionGeosciences.  12:27-27. 2022
    2021 Mesoscale Features in the Global Geospace Response to the March 12, 2012 StormFRONTIERS IN ASTRONOMY AND SPACE SCIENCES.  8. 2021
    2021 An Encounter With the Ion and Electron Diffusion Regions at a Flapping and Twisted Tail Current SheetJournal of Geophysical Research.  126. 2021
    2021 Mesoscale Structures in Earth's Magnetotail Observed Using Energetic Neutral Atom Imaging.Geophysical Research Letters.  48:e2020GL091467. 2021
    2020 Comparison of Deep Learning Techniques to Model Connections Between Solar Wind and Ground Magnetic PerturbationsFRONTIERS IN ASTRONOMY AND SPACE SCIENCES.  7. 2020
    2020 Database of Storm Time Equatorial Ion Temperatures in Earth's Magnetosphere Calculated From Energetic Neutral Atom DataJournal of Geophysical Research.  125. 2020
    2020 Database of storm-time equatorial ion temperatures in Earth's magnetosphere calculated from energetic neutral atom data 2020
    2020 Database of storm-time equatorial ion temperatures in Earth's magnetosphere calculated from energetic neutral atom data and case studies showing "clearing" of hot ions from the plasma sheet 2020
    2020 Statistics of Flow Channels Observed as Regions of Ion Heating in Energetic Neutral Atom Images 2020
    2019 Enhanced Energetic Neutral Atom ImagingFRONTIERS IN ASTRONOMY AND SPACE SCIENCES.  6:9. 2019
    2018 Micro-spectrometer for fusion plasma boundary measurements.Review of Scientific Instruments.  89:10J116. 2018
    2018 Laser induced fluorescence of Ar-I metastables in the presence of a magnetic fieldPlasma Sources Science and Technology.  27:065007-065007. 2018
    2017 The Effect of Storm Driver and Intensity on Magnetospheric Ion TemperaturesJournal of Geophysical Research.  122:9414-9426. 2017
    2017 Storm time equatorial magnetospheric ion temperature derived from TWINS ENA fluxJournal of Geophysical Research.  122:3985-3996. 2017
    2016 A micro-scale plasma spectrometer for space and plasma edge applications (invited).Review of Scientific Instruments.  87:11D302. 2016
    2016 Geomagnetic disturbance intensity dependence on the universal timing of the storm peakJournal of Geophysical Research.  121:7561-7571. 2016
    2016 Key elements of a low voltage, ultracompact plasma spectrometerJournal of Geophysical Research.  121:1452-1465. 2016
    2015 Effects of modeled ionospheric conductance and electron loss on self-consistent ring current simulations during the 5-7 April 2010 stormJournal of Geophysical Research.  120:5355-5376. 2015
    2015 Statistical storm time examination of MLT-dependent plasmapause location derived from IMAGE EUVJournal of Geophysical Research.  120:5545-5559. 2015
    2015 Database of ion temperature maps during geomagnetic storms.Earth and Space Science.  2:39-46. 2015
    2015 The hot hELicon eXperiment (HELIX) and the large experiment on instabilities and anisotropy (LEIA)Journal of Plasma Physics.  81:345810103. 2015
    2014 Regions of ion energization observed during the Galaxy-15 substorm with TWINSJournal of Geophysical Research.  119:8274-8287. 2014
    2014 Superposed epoch analyses of ion temperatures during CME- and CIR/HSS-driven stormsJournal of Atmospheric and Solar: Terrestrial Physics.  115:67-78. 2014
    2014 First results using TWINS-derived ion temperature boundary conditions in CRCMJournal of Geophysical Research.  119:3345-3361. 2014
    2014 Dawn-dusk asymmetries in the coupled solar wind-magnetosphere-ionosphere system: a reviewAnnales Geophysicae: atmospheres, hydrospheres and space sciences.  32:705-737. 2014
    2013 Spontaneous ion beam formation in the laboratory, space, and simulationPhysics of Plasmas.  20:072118-072118. 2013
    2012 Inner magnetosphere convection and magnetotail structure of hot ions imaged by ENA during a HSS-driven stormJournal of Geophysical Research.  117:n/a-n/a. 2012
    2011 Remote observations of ion temperatures in the quiet time magnetosphereGeophysical Research Letters.  38:n/a-n/a. 2011
    2010 Time-resolved measurements of double layer evolution in expanding plasma (vol 17, 055701, 2010)Physics of Plasmas.  17:059901. 2010
    2008 Method to estimate the electron temperature and neutral density in a plasma from spectroscopic measurements using argon atom and ion collisional-radiative models.Review of Scientific Instruments.  79:10E324. 2008
    2008 Remote measurements of ion temperatures in the terrestrial magnetotailJournal of Geophysical Research.  113:n/a-n/a. 2008
    2008 Mini-conference on helicon plasma sourcesPhysics of Plasmas.  15:058301. 2008
    2007 Neutral density profiles in argon helicon plasmasPlasma Sources Science and Technology.  16:742-749. 2007
    2007 Flow, flow shear, and related profiles in helicon plasmasPhysics of Plasmas.  14:043505. 2007
    2005 The ion velocity distribution function in a current-free double layerPhysics of Plasmas.  12:093502. 2005
    2005 Observations of ion-beam formation in a current-free double layer.Physical Review Letters.  95:025004. 2005
    2004 High-speed imaging of edge turbulence in NSTXNuclear Fusion.  44:134-153. 2004
    2002 Slow wave ion heating in the HELIX helicon sourcePlasma Sources Science and Technology.  11:413-425. 2002
    2002 Evidence for thermal anisotropy effects on shear modified ion acoustic instabilitiesPhysics of Plasmas.  9:4399-4401. 2002
    2002 Remote ion temperature measurements of Earth's magnetosphere: Medium energy neutral atom (MENA) imagesGeophysical Research Letters.  29:80-1-80-4. 2002
    2002 RF absorption and ion heating in helicon sources.Physical Review Letters.  88:195002. 2002
    Accessibility and its Importance to the Future of HeliophysicsBulletin of the AAS
    Intelligent Missions in the Living Heliospheric System ObservatoryBulletin of the AAS
    Mesoscale Phenomena & their Contribution to the Global Response: A Focus on the Magnetotail Transition Region & Magnetosphere-Ionosphere CouplingBulletin of the AAS
    Recognition for All: A Way Forward to Enhance Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Space PhysicsBulletin of the AAS.  55.
    Revisiting the Ground Magnetic Field Perturbations Challenge: A Machine Learning PerspectiveFRONTIERS IN ASTRONOMY AND SPACE SCIENCES.  9.
    Technology development needed to enable magnetosphere missionsBulletin of the AAS

    Article

    Year Title
    2023 Demonstration of a Multi-Layer, Lithographically Manufactured Plasma Spectrometer 2023

    Chapter

    Year Title
    2019 Community Based Solar Eclipse Outreach in Rural Appalachia.  77-83. 2019
    2017 A Review of Dawn-Dusk Asymmetries Observed Using the TWINS Mission of OpportunityGeophysical Monograph Series. 213-221. 2017

    Conference Paper

    Year Title
    2016 The CUSPED Mission: CUbeSat for GNSS Sounding of the Ionosphere-Plasmasphere Electron Density54th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting. 2016
    2010 Time-resolved measurements of double layer evolution in expanding plasmaPhysics of Plasmas. 055701. 2010
    2006 Neutral argon density profile determination by comparison of spectroscopic measurements and a collisional-radiative model (invited)Review of Scientific Instruments. 10f304. 2006
    2004 Laser-induced fluorescence measurements of three plasma species with a tunable diode laserReview of Scientific Instruments. 4091-4093. 2004
    2004 Ion heating due to alfven waves in a helicon plasmaThe 31st IEEE International Conference on Plasma Science, 2004. ICOPS 2004. IEEE Conference Record - Abstracts.. 428-428. 2004
    2004 Radial profiles of neutral argon in a helicon sourceThe 31st IEEE International Conference on Plasma Science, 2004. ICOPS 2004. IEEE Conference Record - Abstracts.. 394-394. 2004
    2003 Ion dynamics in helicon sourcesPhysics of Plasmas. 2127-2135. 2003
    A Deep Learning Approach to the Forecasting of Ground Magnetic Field Perturbations at High and Mid Latitudes
    Predicting Ground Magnetic Field Fluctuations from Geomagnetic Storm Data Using a Novel Transformer-Based Model
    Training a Neural Network Using Geomagnetic Storm Data to Predict Ground Magnetic Field Fluctuations
    Training a Neural Network Using Geomagnetic Storm Data to Predict Ground Magnetic Field Fluctuations
    Using Machine Learning and Geomagnetic Storm Data to Determine the Risk of GIC Occurrence
    Using an LSTM and Classification Methods to Determine Risk of dB/dt Threshold Crossings as Proxy for Geomagnetically Induced Currents

    Principal Investigator On

  • Magnetospheric Physics  awarded by National Science Foundation (NSF) 2024 - 2027
  • MMS, THEMIS and TWINS  awarded by National Aeronautics & Space Admin (NASA) 2020 - 2025
  • GEM: Linking the plasma sheet and ionosphere through ENA and auroral imaging  awarded by National Science Foundation (NSF) 2021 - 2023
  • Comparing Signatures of Ion Heating from Reconnection Observed with MMS, THEMIS and TWINS  awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 2020 - 2023
  • Database of TWINS Ion Temperature Maps and Identified Regions of Enhancement  awarded by Eastern Michigan University 2022
  • RII Track-2 FEC: Harnessing Big Data to Improve Understanding and Predictions  awarded by University of Alaska 2019 - 2022
  • RII Track-2 FEC:HarnessBigData  awarded by University of Alaska 2019 - 2022
  • Low Voltage, Ultra-Compact P2  awarded by West Virginia Univ 2019 - 2022
  • Low Voltage, Ultra-Compact Plasma Spectrometer: Phase2  awarded by West Virginia Univ 2019 - 2022
  • Understanding Ion Heating and Convection Using TWINS and SWMF  awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 2019 - 2022
  • Laser Range Finder Project  awarded by Wilcox Industries Corporation 2018 - 2020
  • Laser Range Finder Project  awarded by Wilcox Industries Corporation 2018 - 2020
  • Micro Faraday Cup  awarded by Advanced Research Corporation (ARC) 2018 - 2019
  • Micro Faraday Cup for Low Energy Ion Detection Channels  awarded by Advanced Research Corporation (ARC) 2018 - 2019
  • Stormtime Magnetospheric Ion Temperature Derived From TWINS ENA- Data Upgrade  awarded by Eastern Michigan University 2018 - 2019
  • Teaching Activities

  • Doctoral Research Taught course
  • Doctoral Research Taught course
  • Honors/General Physics II Taught course
  • Intro to Physics Rsch&Teaching Taught course
  • Doctoral Research Taught course 2024
  • Doctoral Research Taught course 2024
  • Intro to Physics Rsch&Teaching Taught course 2024
  • Plasma Physics Taught course 2024
  • Doctoral Research Taught course 2023
  • Doctoral Research Taught course 2022
  • Plasma Physics Taught course 2022
  • Doctoral Research Taught course 2022
  • Doctoral Research Taught course 2021
  • Optics Taught course 2021
  • Doctoral Research Taught course 2021
  • Plasma Physics Taught course 2021
  • Doctoral Research Taught course 2020
  • Senior Design Project Taught course 2020
  • General Physics II Recitation Taught course 2020
  • Senior Design Project Taught course 2020
  • Optics Taught course 2019
  • Senior Design Project Taught course 2019
  • Senior Design Project Taught course 2019
  • Optics Taught course 2018
  • Senior Design Project Taught course 2018
  • Education And Training

  • B.S. Mathematics, Davidson College
  • M.S. Physics, West Virginia University
  • Ph.D. Plasma Physics, West Virginia University
  • Full Name

  • Amy Keesee