Positions

Research Areas research areas

Overview

  • High energy astrophysics (X-ray, gamma-ray and cosmic-ray astronomy) offers an insight into some of the most energetic processes that take place in the universe. Through the development and use of a series of balloon-borne and space-borne experiments, my research attempts to explore some of these phenomena.

    For my thesis research (at UNH), I worked on the development of a balloon-borne gamma-ray telescope. After completing my PhD in 1987, I spent the next two years as a postdoc at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics near Munich, Germany, after which I returned to UNH. The focus of my early post-graduate research was the Compton Telescope experiment (COMPTEL) on NASA's Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory (CGRO). Launched by the Space Shuttle Atlantis in April of 1991, CGRO remained in orbit until it was de-orbited by NASA in June of 2000. My scientific studies with CGRO focused on research involving the accretion of matter onto compact objects (such as neutron stars and black holes), along with studies of high energy radiations from solar flares. Over the years, I have continued my research in high energy phenomena using data from several different satellite missions, including ROSAT, INTEGRAL, RHESSI, and Fermi.

    In addition to analyzing data from numerous satellite missions, I have continued to be active in the development of new detector technologies for high energy missions. I have been especially interested in the development of technologies for studying X-ray and gamma-ray polarization from astrophysical sources. Studies of polarization from high energy sources should provide information on the geometry of the particle acceleration process and shed some light on the precise nature of the acceleration mechanism. The culmination of these efforts is a balloon experiment that we refer to as GRAPE. The first flight of the GRAPE payload is scheduled for the fall of 2011. The scientific goals of GRAPE include studies of pulsars, gamma-ray bursts and solar flares.

    Other experimental efforts have included work with solid state gamma-ray detectors (such as CdZnTe), new scintillator technologies for gamma-ray detection (such as Lanthanum Bromideand Lanthanum Chloride) and various types of neutron detectors. Although the motivation for these developments is the study of astrophysical sources, several of these technologies may also have more practical applications. Our solid state gamma-ray detectors, for example, might be useful in several types of medical imaging applications. Our neutron telescope promises to be a useful tool for studying atmospheric radiations that adversely impact computers and other electrical equipment, particularly at high altitudes. They may also be useful as a monitor for nuclear waste management and for homeland security applications. As part of our research, we are exploring these other areas where our newly-developed technologies may prove valuable.

    All of this research maintains a very active student involvement.Students play an integral part in all aspects of our work. This includes not only graduate students, but also undergraduate
  • Principal Investigator On

  • The Development of a Low-Energy Compton Imager for GRB Polarization Studies  awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 2019 - 2023
  • Diamond Scattering Detectors for Compton Telescopes  awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 2018 - 2022
  • Next-Generation Neutron Imager  awarded by Defense Threat Reduction Agency 2020 - 2022
  • LargE Area Burst Polimeter (LEAP)  awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 2020 - 2021
  • Studies of Atmospheric Albedo Neutrons and Gamma Rays with CGRO/COMPTEL  awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 2016 - 2021
  • "Radiation Hard Diamond Particle Detector for Heliophysics"  awarded by Radiation Monitoring Devices, Inc. 2020 - 2021
  • Gamma-Ray Flares and Hard X-Ray Variations in the Crab Nebula Since 1991  awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 2017 - 2020
  • Optimization of the GRAPE Polarimeter Design  awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 2016 - 2019
  • MASPEX Engineering Services  awarded by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) 2018 - 2019
  • SwRI On-site Meeting Support  awarded by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) 2019
  • Polarization Studies with CGRO-COMPTEL  awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 2015 - 2018
  • Studying the Gamma-Ray Polarization of GRBs with GRAPE  awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 2013 - 2016
  • Polarimeter Beam Testing at NASA-MSFC  awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 2015 - 2016
  • Analysis of Data from the First GRAPE Balloon Flight  awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 2012 - 2013
  • GRAPE - A Balloon-Borne Polarimeter for Hard X-Ray and Gamma-Ray Astronomy  awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 2009 - 2012
  • Albedo Polarimetry of GRBs and Solar Flares with GBM  awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 2010 - 2011
  • Albedo Radiation Data from COMPTEL as Input to the Fermi Background Model  awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 2009 - 2011
  • Technology Development for the CASTER Black Hole Finder Probe Mission  awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 2008 - 2011
  • Simulation and Laboratory Testing of CZT Detector Designs  awarded by Analogic Corporation 2009
  • New Scintillator for High Energy Astrophysics  awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 2005 - 2009
  • Hard X-Ray Polarimetry of Solar Flares with RHESSI  awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 2008 - 2009
  • Solar GRAPE - Development of Hard X-Ray Polimeter for Solar Flares  awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 2004 - 2007
  • Polarimeter for Gamma-Ray Bursts Wide Field-of-View X-Ray  awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 2004 - 2007
  • Coded Aperture Suvey Telescope Ener Rad Black Hole (CASTER)  awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 2004 - 2007
  • Hard X-Ray Polarimetry of Solar Flares with RHESSI  awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 2004 - 2007
  • Gamma-Ray Imaging for Army STTR  awarded by Neva Ridge Technologies Inc 2006 - 2007
  • Ramaty High Energy Spectro Solar Imager Monitor X-Ray Sky  awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 2004 - 2007
  • Background Characterization for Advanced Gamma-Ray Telescopes  awarded by University of California, Los Alamos National Laboratory 2004 - 2006
  • Intl Gamma Ray Astrophysics Lab MeV Source  awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 2001 - 2004
  • Gamma-Ray Burst Catalog from CGRO Imaging Compton Telescope  awarded by US DOE, Los Alamos National Laboratory 2001 - 2003
  • Novel APD Arrays for Scintillating Fiber Readout  awarded by Radiation Monitoring Devices, Inc. 2000 - 2003
  • Hard X-Ray Polarimetry of Solar Flare with HESSI  awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 1999 - 2003
  • Polarimeter for Gamma-Ray Bursts Wide Field-of-View X-Ray  awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 1999 - 2003
  • APD Readout Scheme for Solar Neutron Tracking Device  awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 1998 - 2001
  • Long Duration Solar Observations with COMPTEL  awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 1999 - 2000
  • High School Astrophysics  awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 1998 - 2000
  • Broad-Band Gamma-Ray Spectra of Cygnus X-1  awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 1998 - 1999
  • COMPTEL Studies of Gamma-Ray Bursts at MeV Energies  awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 1998 - 1999
  • Counterpart Search for 2.2 Mev Gamma Rays  awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 1997 - 1999
  • SOLPOL-A Solar Polarimeter for Hard X-Rays & Gamma Rays  awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 1997 - 1999
  • COMPTEL Observations of Soft X-Ray Transients  awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 1997 - 1998
  • Development of Solar Flare Hard X-Ray/Gamma-Ray Polarimeter  awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 1995 - 1996
  • BATSE Sensitivity to Polarized Gamma-Radiation  awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 1992 - 1996
  • Investigator On

    Teaching Activities

  • Astrophysics II Taught course
  • Doctoral Research Taught course
  • Doctoral Research Taught course
  • Doctoral Research Taught course 2024
  • General Physics III Taught course 2024
  • Doctoral Research Taught course 2023
  • High Energy Astrophysics Taught course 2023
  • Doctoral Research Taught course 2022
  • Doctoral Research Taught course 2022
  • Doctoral Research Taught course 2021
  • Intro to Modern Astronomy Taught course 2021
  • Doctoral Research Taught course 2020
  • Doctoral Research Taught course 2020
  • Intro to Modern Astronomy Taught course 2020
  • Doctoral Research Taught course 2019
  • Doctoral Research Taught course 2019
  • The Final Frontier Taught course 2019
  • Doctoral Research Taught course 2018
  • General Physics I Recitation Taught course 2018
  • Doctoral Research Taught course 2018
  • Doctoral Research Taught course 2017
  • Intro to Modern Astronomy Taught course 2017
  • Doctoral Research Taught course 2017
  • Intro to Modern Astronomy Taught course 2017
  • Doctoral Research Taught course 2016
  • Freshman Seminar Taught course 2016
  • Doctoral Research Taught course 2016
  • Doctoral Research Taught course 2015
  • General Physics II Recitation Taught course 2015
  • Doctoral Research Taught course 2015
  • Doctoral Research Taught course 2014
  • Education And Training

  • B.S. Physics, Case Western Reserve University
  • Ph.D. Physics, University of New Hampshire
  • Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics , Visiting Scientist - Gamma Ray Astrophysics 1987 - 1989
  • Full Name

  • Mark McConnell
  • Mailing Address

  • University of New Hampshire

    Space Science Center

    Morse Hall, Room 308

    Durham, NH  03824

    USA