arXiv subjects

Jamey Szalay

Publications and source records attributed to Jamey Szalay.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Review of Machine Learning Models for Solar Energetic Particle Prediction

Solar energetic particle (SEP) events have attracted increasing attention due to their significant radiation hazards for aviation, spacecraft electronics, and human missions beyond Earth's magnetosphere. From a scientific perspective, SEP events are intriguing because they arise from a set of physical processes extending from the solar surface and corona through the heliosphere, offering insight into particle acceleration and transport mechanisms that are widely applicable across astrophysics. Therefore, advancing our ability to understand and predict SEP events is essential both for deepening our knowledge of such mechanisms and for safeguarding space technologies and exploration. Traditionally, researchers have modeled SEPs using physics-based simulations and empirical methods. More recently, machine learning (ML) has emerged as a new tool for understanding and predicting SEP events. The purpose of this manuscript is to review the currently available ML models for SEP prediction, identify the datasets used for training, compare their architectures, inputs, and outputs, and, based on these insights, outline good practices and recommendations for future research.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2026

Auroral Acceleration Generates Electron Beams in Jupiter's Middle Magnetosphere

Observations made by the Juno spacecraft above Jupiter's polar regions have revealed that electrons accelerated toward Jupiter, which contribute to auroral emissions, are frequently accompanied by electrons accelerated away from Jupiter. These electrons should be observable as narrow electron beams in the middle magnetosphere, in accordance with the principles of adiabatic particle motion. The existence of such beams has been previously reported using data from the Galileo mission, and their relation to auroral processes has been hypothesized. In the present study, we analyze electrons measured by Juno's JEDI instrument in the middle magnetosphere between 13 RJ and 50.5 RJ radial distance and within energies of 30-1,200 keV. The pitch angle distributions of potential electron beams are fitted with an intensity 'beamness' function. The presence of narrow beams is demonstrated throughout the observation range. The energy fluxes of auroral and equatorial electron beams are compared by including pitch angle scattering processes along the magnetospheric field lines. This is achieved by solving the pitch angle diffusion equation for different sets of diffusion coefficients. The statistical occurrence distribution and the energy fluxes of the beams are consistent with auroral upward accelerated electrons observed in studies of the polar space environment. This finding provides further support for the hypothesis that the electron beams observed in the middle magnetosphere originate from the auroral acceleration region.

physics.space-ph↗

arXiv2023

The case for studying other planetary magnetospheres and atmospheres in Heliophysics

Heliophysics is the field that "studies the nature of the Sun, and how it influences the very nature of space - and, in turn, the atmospheres of planetary bodies and the technology that exists there." However, NASA's Heliophysics Division tends to limit study of planetary magnetospheres and atmospheres to only those of Earth. This leaves exploration and understanding of space plasma physics at other worlds to the purview of the Planetary Science and Astrophysics Divisions. This is detrimental to the study of space plasma physics in general since, although some cross-divisional funding opportunities do exist, vital elements of space plasma physics can be best addressed by extending the expertise of Heliophysics scientists to other stellar and planetary magnetospheres. However, the diverse worlds within the solar system provide crucial environmental conditions that are not replicated at Earth but can provide deep insight into fundamental space plasma physics processes. Studying planetary systems with Heliophysics objectives, comprehensive instrumentation, and new grant opportunities for analysis and modeling would enable a novel understanding of fundamental and universal processes of space plasma physics. As such, the Heliophysics community should be prepared to consider, prioritize, and fund dedicated Heliophysics efforts to planetary targets to specifically study space physics and aeronomy objectives.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2023

Synergies between interstellar dust and heliospheric science with an Interstellar Probe

We discuss the synergies between heliospheric and dust science, the open science questions, the technological endeavors and programmatic aspects that are important to maintain or develop in the decade to come. In particular, we illustrate how we can use interstellar dust in the solar system as a tracer for the (dynamic) heliosphere properties, and emphasize the fairly unexplored, but potentially important science question of the role of cosmic dust in heliospheric and astrospheric physics. We show that an Interstellar Probe mission with a dedicated dust suite would bring unprecedented advances to interstellar dust research, and can also contribute-through measuring dust - to heliospheric science. This can, in particular, be done well if we work in synergy with other missions inside the solar system, thereby using multiple vantage points in space to measure the dust as it `rolls' into the heliosphere. Such synergies between missions inside the solar system and far out are crucial for disentangling the spatially and temporally varying dust flow. Finally, we highlight the relevant instrumentation and its suitability for contributing to finding answers to the research questions.

astro-ph.IM↗