Biographical Sketch for J. Douglas Menietti

Research Scientist, Physics and Astronomy Dept., The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242

Dr. Menietti received his B.S. in Physics from Southern Illinois University in 1971; his M.S. in Physics from The University of Iowa in 1974; and his Ph.D. in Astrophysics from The University of Iowa in 1977.

Dr. Menietti has extensive experience in space plasma data analysis and computation. Formally trained in the area of computational astrophysics, he developed circumstellar shell computer models which were instrumental in explaining the observed infrared excess in the spectra of some late‑type stars. These codes involved the solution of the radiative transfer equation in azimuthal symmetry for a stellar atmosphere containing supersonic gas and condensing grain particles, and resulted in theoretical spectra. While teaching physics and astronomy at Western Illinois University, he became additionally interested in space physics and began studies of plasma waves in the Jovian magnetosphere. These studies involved the ray‑tracing of whistler‑mode and decametric radiation through the Jovian magnetosphere and the Io torus. At SwRI, Dr. Menietti performed modeling and data analysis of both particle and wave data from a number of satellites including Atmospheric Explorer, Dynamics Explorer, Voyager, and Ulysses. To date his investigations have included ion flows in the terrestrial plasmasphere and polar regions, electron conic formation, theta aurora physics, cusp particle dynamics and flux transfer event dynamics. He has also studied the generation and propagation of terrestrial Z‑mode, auroral kilometric radiation, Uranian and Neptunian kilometric emission. His most recent interests include wave growth analyses using the WHAMP dispersion solver for the space plasma environment. He is currently performing analysis of Galileo and Polar plasma wave data and is credited with discovering control of Jovian Hectometric (HOM) emission by Ganymede and Callisto. He is actively involved in analyzing auroral kilometric radiation fine structure via wave stimulation.

Dr. Menietti has been PI or Co-I of numerous NASA funded data analysis and modeling programs. These programs include the Uranus Data Analysis Program; the Neptune Data Analysis Program; Dynamics Explorer Guest Investigator Program; Auroral Plasma Wave investigation; and the Polar Guest Investigator Program.

Dr. Menietti has served on numerous NASA/NSF review panels, and has been on the executive committee of URSI. Dr. Menietti is co-editor of Volume 23 (6), 2001, APlanetary Magnetospheres@ of Advances in Space Research.

Professional Chronology:

1994‑present Research Scientist, Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Iowa,

1992‑1994 Associate Research Scientist, Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Iowa

1991‑1992 Staff Scientist, Southwest Research Institute

1988‑1991 Principal Scientist, Plasma Physics Section, Southwest Research Institute

1984‑1988 Senior Research Scientist, Theory and Data Analysis Section, Instrumentation and Space Research Division, Southwest Research Institute

1980‑ 1984 Research Scientist, Space Physics Section, Instrumentation Research Division, Southwest Research Institute

1977‑1980 Assistant Professor of Physics, Western Illinois University, Macomb, Illinois,;

Summer 1979 Research Associate in Space Physics, The University of Iowa

Memberships: American Geophysical Union and the International Union of Radio Science (URSI).

Selected Publications:

Menietti, J. D., J. S. Pickett, G. B. Hospodarsky, D. A. Gurnett, and J. D. Scudder, Polar observations of plasma waves in and near the dayside magnetopause/magnetosheath, Plan. Space Sci., in press, 2004.

Menietti, J. D., O. Santolik, J. S. Pickett, and D. A. Gurnett, High resolution observations of continuum radiation, Planet. Space Sc. , in press, 2004.

Menietti, J. D., D. A. Gurnett, G. B. Hospodarsky, C. A. Higgins, W. S. Kurth, and P. Zarka, Modeling radio emission attenuation lanes observed by the Galileo and Cassini spacecraft, Planetary and Space Science, 51, 533-540, 2003.

Menietti, J. D., R. R. Anderson, J. S. Pickett, D. A. Gurnett, and H. Matsumoto, Near-source and remote observations of kilometric continuum radiation from multispacecraft observations, J. Geophys. Res.,108(A11), 1393, doi:10.1029/2003JA009826, 2003.

Menietti, J. D., O. Santolik, J. D. Scudder, J. S. Pickett, and D. A. Gurnett, Electrostatic electron cyclotron waves generated by low energy electron beams, J. Geophys. Res., 107, 1285, doi: 1029/2001JA009223, 2002.

Menietti, J. D., D. A. Gurnett, and I. Christopher, Control of Jovian radio emission by Callisto, Geophys. Res. Lett., 28, 3047-3050, 2001.

Morgan, D. D., J. D. Menietti, R. M. Winglee, and H. K. Wong, Perpendicular electron heating by absorption of auroral kilometric radiation, Plan. Space Sci., 48, 41-49, 2000.

Menietti, J. D., A. M. Persoon, J. S. Pickett, and D. A. Gurnett, Statistical study of auroral kilometric radiation fine structure striations observed by Polar, J. Geophys. Res., 105, 18,857-18,866, 2000.

Menietti, J. D., D. A. Gurnett, W. S. Kurth, J. B. Groene, Control of Jovian radio emission by Ganymede, Geophys. Res. Lett., 25, 4281-4284, 1998.

Menietti, J. D., I. H. Cairns, C. W. Piker, and T. F. Averkamp, Statistical study of emissions near f_p and 2 f_p in the dayside and nightside auroral region and polar cap, J. Geophys. Res., 103, 14,925-14,938, 1998.

Synergistic Activities:

In the past several research tools have been modified to provide model demonstrations for students of plasma physics. These include ray tracing techniques displaying properties of plasma waves, and a linear wave dispersion solver adapted to provide student demonstrations of classic wave modes. Dr. Menietti has also been involved in the archival of plasma wave datasets for both terrestrial and planetary missions, especially via the Planetary Data System program. In addition, he regularly speaks to students locally at Regina Catholic Education Center on topics of space physics and astronomy.