06/2004 - current time. I work as a research scientist at the Space Sciences Center (Physics and Astronomy Department of the LAS) at the USC. My work includes developing software for studying Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV), X-Ray and Solar Energetic Particles (SEP) data.
* A new method for extracting SEP using EIT (SOHO) CCD areas outside the solar disk images was developed together with my co-authors, and was demonstrated for some extreme solar flare events by comparing with corresponding GOES SEP data. The advantage of the method is an ability to extract proton events in a number of narrower incident energy ranges than those available from the GOES data. The narrower energy ranges give us a better flux-energy resolution in modeling acceleration and transport of the SEPs.
* I have modeled and developed some advanced multi-electrode photo-electron focusing systems for an Optics Free EUV Spectrometer (OFS). Broadband EUV photons ionize a neon gas in an OFS instrument and the resulting electron energy distribution mirrors the incident photon spectrum. An earlier version of concept design was flown on sounding-rocket flights as a dual-electrode analyzer. Improved simulation models allowed us to achieve better focusing for the photo-electron beam and, thus, improve the spectral resolution and achieve a significantly higher signal to noise ratio. The models were tested with the SIMION software tools and are now resulting in a new OFS design for a sounding-rocket payload with a planned launch in August 2011.
* I have been working as a Project Scientist for the Extreme ultraviolet SpectroPhotometer (ESP; Prof. Darrell Judge is PI of this Project), one of EUV instruments onboard the EUV Variability Experiment (EVE) of the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) launched to a Geo-stationary orbit in Feb 2010. This work includes developing of software for ESP science data reduction, testing and calibration of ESP flight and rocket instruments at the NIST Synchrotron Ultraviolet Radiation Facility, participation in the pre-launch and engineering runs after the SDO launch, etc.
* A significant portion of my work is related to the calibration, testing, verification, and science data reduction for the Solar EUV Monitor (SEM; Prof. Darrell Judge is PI of this project), which has been supplying the solar community, ionosphere and the Earth atmosphere modelers with highly accurate absolute solar EUV irradiance since 1996. My duties for this project include maintaining of the USC SSC website.
* In works for new solar EUV instruments such as the Degradation-Free Spectrometers I share a responsibility for the scientific outputs with the PI of these projects (Prof. D. Judge) and do some electronics for these instruments, from the idea through electric schematics and Printed Circuit Boards to the final product suitable for the flight payload.
* I have designed and proposed extra-small off-axis telescopes for a Climate Change Explorer, a space instrument to study both the Ozone Depletion Layers and scattered by the Earth long-wavelength radiation. The goal of this project is to determine how the fluctuations of solar irradiance in different spectral bands affect the Earth’s climate. This study may help us to solve a long mystery about a weak correlation between the solar variability, e.g. during the Solar Cycles and changes of the Earth’s surface temperature.
03/2000 - 04/2004 . I worked as a Research Professor and Research Scientist at the Big Bear Solar Observatory (BBSO) of NJIT. I was developing new systems, telescopes and instruments for solar visible light and infrared measurements. At BBSO I developed a control program, data acquisition and analysis programs, and a Graphical User Interface to study and implement a Correlation Tracker (CT). The CT was used to improve image quality in the 26" Telescope’s focal plane by significantly reducing the image tilts introduced by turbulent Earth Atmosphere. The CT was tested with the 26" Telescope setup and showed substantial improvements of both image contrast and stability in the focal plane.
* I worked on development of an improved version of the CT with substantially faster tip/tilt platform, more powerful control unit (it affects the CT operation speed), improved programs and newest LINUX-based platforms. The CT is an important component of any Adaptive Optics (AO) System.
* I worked on a High-Degree AO System for existing 26'' Vacuum Solar Telescope under the joint National Solar Observatory - BBSO Project supported by NSF. This work had three main focuses: the development of an optical design for the AO System, telescope and AO system alignment, testing all AO components for a real-time (close loop) image reconstruction.
* I developed and evaluated an optical design for a New Solar Telescope (NST) Project, - off-axis 1.6 m largest in the World Solar Telescope with High-Degree AO. This telescope will replace the 26” vacuum telescope at BBSO. The NST will utilize the current and planned complement of BBSO instrumentation. This includes visible and IR Fabry-Perot based polarimeters and real-time phase-diversity specle imaging system. AO system can correct images to the diffraction limit and will utilize the optical and dynamical range advantages of the NST un-obscured pupil. In this project I was in charge for all optics (telescope and AO) and telescope mechanics, including active primary mirror, mirror cells and optical support structure. I taught and supervised a group of three engineers - an optical, mechanical and electronics engineers.
* One of the most important works on the NST is its alignment issue. NST is an off-axis telescope with some narrower tolerances on position of optical elements than those tolerances for any astronomical on-axis telescope. Special systems to maintain the secondary mirror alignment should be developed. They will include detection of its de-centering, de-focussing, de-tilting and thermal issues. Together with members of my group I was working on developing these systems.
1996 - 2000. The Crimean Astrophysical Observatory (CRAO). Position: Science Deputy Director. I coordinated scientific plans and everyday work for three major Laboratories of the CRAO: Solar Physics, Experimental Astrophysics, High-Energy (Cherenkov's rays) Laboratory as well as Optical and Mechanical Shops with a total staff of about 110 scientists, engineers and workers in these Departments.
* I was a PI from Crimean site in the High-Degree Helioseismology Network - an International Project, which involves USC and Mount Wilson Observatory (USC Prof. E. Rhodes is the PI) and Crimean Astrophysical Observatory into helioseismology study of the Sun. A number of algorithms and methods were developed for improving images quality. A method for determination of the solar roll-angle position important for comparing ground-based solar images with the SOI-MDI images from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory mission was developed.
* Organized and managed a working group for International (Ukraine, Russia, Italy, Germany) Project "SPECTRUM-UV" - a space telescope with 1.7 m primary mirror. The group discussed scientific, optical and mechanical issues of the Project. I developed a system for maintaining alignment of the telescope after its launch.
1990-1996. CRAO. Senior Scientist. I worked on testing some AO components (sensors, actuators) for an experimental multi-segmented stellar telescope AST-1200. I developed an inductive sensor for high-precision phase compensation of the segments. The sensor may work with 0.01 um accuracy in a range of +- 0.5 mm.
1987-1990. CRAO. Research Scientist. Studied solar oscillations using original devices based on photodiode arrays. A number of papers about intermediate-degree solar oscillation modes: their splitting, temporal and spatial structure, internal differential rotation of the Sun was published then.
1975-1987. CRAO. Lead Engineer. I developed a few high-precision solar photometers based on photodiode arrays. Developed two major modules for astronomical data acquisition and flow control for a space telescope "ASTRON". I developed computer-based systems for data acquisition and reduction on solar telescopes BST-1 and BST-2.
* I worked as a lead engineer and a senior scientist on several science-technology projects, including Space Telescopes ASTRON and SPECTRUM-UV, on developments of Adaptive Optics systems for the first in the Soviet Union multi-segmented telescope AST-1200 and in other projects.
ASTRON: For the space telescope ASTRON I have developed and tested two major modules for the data acquisition system and for the control of the science data flow. These modules were working properly during the ASTRON mission.
SPECTRUM-UV: I have developed a system for detection of the 1.7 m space telescope misalignment, and for maintaining in the space the best ground (pre-launch) telescope alignment. The system can remember the best ground-based telescope alignment and then detect such misalignments as the secondary mirror’s de-center and tilt for a realignment on orbit. I organized and managed a working group to discuss all problematic optical and mechanical issues of the Project, including Primary mirror producion, testing and its active support.
Adaptive Optics: I developed high-precision sensors for measuring and maintaining the required phase relations between the segments of the Primary Mirror in the multi-segmented stellar Telescope AST-1200. In addition, these sensors (0.01 um resolution in a range of +-0.5 mm) allowed me to study temporal and load characteristics of piezo and magneto-strictive actuators.
1970-1975. Kamenets-Podolsky (Ukraine). Engineer. Laboratory of computers. Plant "Electropribor". Worked on hardware improvements for some computers and hard disks. Developed a system interface for connecting hard disks to computers and for using hard disks as a remote data storage without an expensive industry’s control unit.