Richard A. Hart
Summary
I am a PhD candidate of Space Physics in the Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences at UCLA. My expected graduation date is March 18, 2022. My research focuses on the study of plasma waves in the ionosphere of Venus, specifically lightning-generated whistler-mode waves. I have a strong IT background which has aided me in developing code to analyze magnetic field data. My goal is to obtain a position that highlights the scientific skills, specifically in Space Physics, that I have developed during my tenure in graduate school.
Education
Ph.D. Geophysics & Space PhysicsMarch 2022University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Advisor: Christopher T. Russell
Thesis Topic: Lightning on Venus inferred from low altitude whistler-mode wave observations
B.S. Astrophysics, Minor in Mathematics2008
University of California, Los Angeles, CA
A.S. Mathematics2004
Antelope Valley College, Lancaster, CA
Positions Held
Graduate Student Researcher, UCLA Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences2012 – present
IT Ststem Administrator, UCLA Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences2008 – 2018
Data Processing Assistant, UCLA Institute of Geophysics and Space Physics2007 – 2008
Grants
The Strength of Venus Lightning2018 – 2021PI: C.T. Russell (Student Investigator: R.A. Hart)
NASA Solar System Workings ($427,640)
Professional Societies
American Geophysical Union2012 – presentAmerican Astronomical Society – Division for Planetary Sciences2015 – present
Professional Service and Development
- Executive Secretary, Proposal Review Panel for NASA’s Discovery Data Analysis Program, Rockville, MD, January 2017
- Executive Secretary, Proposal Review Panel for NASA’s Planetary Data Archiving and Restoration Tools Program, Crystal City, VA, October 2016
- Science Liaison, “Exploring Your Universe” activities including solar telescopes and Dawn exhibit, University of California, Los Angeles, 2013 – 2017
- Science Liaison, UCLA Science Outreach program activities, 2013 – 2017
- Produced projected 450×450 images for entire surface of asteroid Vesta using Dawn Framing Camera data for the Asteroid Mappers citizen science project, Cosmoquest.org, 2012 – 2014
Research Interests
- Propagation of whistler-mode waves in ionospheres and magnetospheres
- Lightning on Venus
- Charge exchange mechanisms that produce lightning discharges
- Propagation of whistler-mode waves in ionospheres and magnetospheres
- Transient Luminous Events (TLE) and their effects on the ionosphere
Refereed Publications
Hart, R.A., C.T. Russell, T.L. Zhang (2022). Statistical study of lightning-generated whistler-mode waves observed by Venus Express. Icarus, In Press.
Russell, C.T., R.A. Hart, T.L. Zhang (2022). Venus Express Cleaned High-Resolution 128 Hz Magnetic Field Data Bundle. PDS Planetary Plasma Interactions Node, doi: 10.17189/1522415.
Russell, C.T., H.K. Leinweber, R.A. Hart, H.Y. Wei, R.J. Strangeway, T.L. Zhang (2013). Venus Express observations of ULF and ELF waves in the Venus ionosphere: Wave properties and sources. Icarus, 226, 1527-1537, doi: 10.1016/j.icarus.2013.08.019.
Selected Conference Presentations
Hart, R.A., C.T. Russell, T.L. Zhang (2021). Lightning on Venus Confirmed by Frequent Observations of Low-Altitude Whistler-Mode Waves. Oral presentation at 2021 American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, New Orleans, LA, December 16.
Hart, R.A., C.T. Russell, T.L. Zhang (2021). Lightning on Venus confirmed by frequent observations of whistler-mode waves. Poster presented at 2021 Annual Meeting of the Venus Exploration Analysis Group, Virtual, November 8.
Hart, R.A., C.T. Russell, T.L. Zhang (2021). Lightning on Venus confirmed by low-altitude whistler-mode waves. Oral presentation at Venus Science Conference 2021, Virtual, September 23.
Hart, R.A., C.T. Russell, T.L. Zhang (2020). Lightning-Generated Whistler-Mode Waves in the Ionosphere of Venus. Oral presentation at 2020 American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, Virtual, December 9.
Hart, R.A., C.T. Russell, J.P. Pabari, T.L. Zhang (2020). The Strength of Lightning on Venus Inferred from Ionospheric Whistler-Mode Waves. Oral presentation at European Planetary Science Congress 2020, Virtual, September 22.
Hart, R.A., C.T. Russell, T.L. Zhang (2019). Energetics of Lightning-Generated Whistler-Mode Waves at Venus. Poster presented at 2019 American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA, December 9.
Hart, R.A., C.T. Russell, T.L. Zhang (2019). Lightning Generated Whistlers at Venus: Statistics of Poynting Flux Estimates. Oral presentation at European Planetary Science Congress 2019, Geneva, Switzerland, September 19.
Hart, R.A., C.T. Russell, T.L. Zhang (2018). Statistics and Energetics of Lightning on Venus. Oral presentation at 42nd COSPAR Scientific Assembly, Pasadena, CA, July 8.
Hart, R.A., C.T. Russell, T.L. Zhang (2016). Energy Estimates of Lightning-Generated Whistler-Mode Waves in the Venus Ionosphere. Oral presentation at Division for Planetary Sciences 48, Pasadena, CA, October 17.
Hart, R.A., C.T. Russell, T.L. Zhang (2015). Fluctuations in the Venusian Ionosphere and Their Effect on Venus Express Lightning Detection Rates. Poster presented at 2015 American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA, December 18.
Hart, R.A., C.T. Russell, T.L. Zhang (2015). Ionospheric Modulation of Venus Express Lightning Detection Rates. Oral presentation at Division for Planetary Sciences 47, Washington, DC, November 10.
Hart, R.A., C.T. Russell, T.L. Zhang (2015). An Overview of Lightning Induced Whistler-Mode Waves Observed by Venus Express. Oral presentation at 46th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, The Woodlands, TX, March 16.
Hart, R.A., C.T. Russell, T.L. Zhang (2014). A Statistical Study of Lightning Occurrence Rates from Venus Express Observations. Poster presented at 2014 American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA, December 17.
Hart, R.A., C.T. Russell, H.Y. Wei, T.L. Zhang (2013). The Importance of Venus Lightning Investigations. Poster presented at 2013 American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA, December 12.