Sciences and Exploration Directorate

Judith T Karpen

(Chief)

Judith T Karpen's Contact Card & Information.
Email: judith.t.karpen@nasa.gov
Phone: 301.286.0065
Org Code: 674
Address:
NASA/GSFC
Mail Code 674
Greenbelt, MD 20771
Employer:
NASA

Research Interests


Computational solar physics

Heliophysics: Theory & Modeling

Analytical and numerical modeling of dynamic solar and heliospheric phenomena, and applications of plasma physics and magnetohydrodynamics to solar and heliospheric activity


magnetic reconnection

Heliophysics: Theory & Modeling

fundamental mechanism and role of reconnection in solar activity


physics of solar phenomena

Heliophysics: Solar Atmosphere

coronal jets, coronal mass ejections/eruptive flares, slow solar wind, prominences, filament channels

Positions/Employment


Chief, Space Weather Laboratory

NASA - Goddard Space Flight Center

May 2012 - Present

Dr. Karpen has been a research astrophysicist in the Space Weather Laboratory, Heliophysics Division, since July 2008. Currently she is the Chief of the Space Weather Laboratory.

Education


BS Physics (Honors), University of Michigan, 1973
PhD Astronomy, University of Maryland, 1980

Professional Societies


American Astronomical Society, Solar Physics Division

1980 - Present


International Astronomical Union

1990 - Present


American Geophysical Union

2000 - Present

Professional Service


AAS/SPD committees and offices: Committee, 1991-93; Nominating Committee, 1995-1996; Vice-Chair, 1998-1999, Chair, 1999-2001; Vice-Chair, 2001-2002; Outgoing Vice-Chair, 2002-2004; Prize Committee, 2009-2013


AAS committees: Dannie Heineman Prize committee, 2001-2003, Publications Board, 2003-2006


AGU committees: Bowie Medal, 2013-2016; Space Weather and Nonlinear Waves and Processes Prize (chair), 2017-2019; Fred Scarf Award, 2021 


NASA committees: Solar Physics Branch MOWG, 1992-1995; GSFC Space Science Visiting Committee, 2000-2004; Space Science Advisory Committee (SScAC), 2002-2005; Heliophysics Subcommittee, 2010-2013; numerous panel and mail-in reviews (also for NSF and DoE); ISRO-NASA Heliophysics Working Group, 2017 – present


NAS/NRC committees: Committee on Solar and Space Physics, 1997-2000; Solar-Heliospheric Panel of the Solar and Space Physics Decadal Survey, 2001-2002; Plasma 2020 Decadal Survey, 2018-2020


Other: GSFC Science Director’s Committee, 2008-2010; GSFC Women’s Advisory Committee, 2020-2012;  Editorial Board, Solar Physics: 2016 – present; COSPAR2020 Science Organizing Committee; NSF Committee of Visitors for the Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences, 2020; midterm review committee for the DoE Wisconsin Plasma Physics Laboratory, 2021; Heliophysics Science Division DEI Advisory Council, 2021-.

Awards


American Astronomical Society Fellow, January 2022

Publications


Refereed

2023. "Self-similar Outflows at the Source of the Fast Solar Wind: A Smoking Gun of Multiscale Impulsive Reconnection?." Astrophysical Journal Letters 955 L38 [10.3847/2041-8213/acf85c] [Journal Article/Letter]

2023. "New Evidence on the Origin of Solar Wind Microstreams/Switchbacks." Astrophysical Journal Letters 951 L15 [10.3847/2041-8213/acd54e] [Journal Article/Letter]

2023. "Magnetic Reconnection as the Driver of the Solar Wind." Astrophysical Journal 945 28 [10.3847/1538-4357/acaf6c] [Journal Article/Letter]

2023. "Plasmoids, Flows, and Jets during Magnetic Reconnection in a Failed Solar Eruption." Astrophysical Journal 943 156 [10.3847/1538-4357/acaea4] [Journal Article/Letter]

2022. "Comparison of Two Methods for Deriving the Magnetic Field in a Filament Channel." The Astrophysical Journal 940 (1): 34 [10.3847/1538-4357/ac9377] [Journal Article/Letter]

2022. "Quasi-periodic Energy Release and Jets at the Base of Solar Coronal Plumes." Astrophysical Journal 933 21 [10.3847/1538-4357/ac6c24] [Journal Article/Letter]

2022. "Kink Oscillation of a Flux Rope During a Failed Solar Eruption." Astrophysical Journal Letters 932 L9 [10.3847/2041-8213/ac6e3e] [Journal Article/Letter]

2022. "Spectral Power-law Formation by Sequential Particle Acceleration in Multiple Flare Magnetic Islands." Astrophysical Journal 925 191 [10.3847/1538-4357/ac39a5] [Journal Article/Letter]

2021. "A Model for the Coupled Eruption of a Pseudostreamer and Helmet Streamer." Astrophysical Journal 909 54 [10.3847/1538-4357/abd9ca] [Journal Article/Letter]

2021. "From Pseudostreamer Jets to Coronal Mass Ejections: Observations of the Breakout Continuum." Astrophysical Journal 907 41 [10.3847/1538-4357/abca8b] [Journal Article/Letter]

2021. "Plumelets: Dynamic Filamentary Structures in Solar Coronal Plumes." Astrophysical Journal 907 1 [10.3847/1538-4357/abd186] [Journal Article/Letter]

2019. "First Detection of Plasmoids from Breakout Reconnection on the Sun." Astrophysical Journal Letters 885 L15 [10.3847/2041-8213/ab45f9] [Journal Article/Letter]

2019. "Multiwavelength Study of Equatorial Coronal-hole Jets." Astrophysical Journal 873 93 [10.3847/1538-4357/ab04af] [Journal Article/Letter]

2018. "Simulated Encounters of the Parker Solar Probe with a Coronal-hole Jet." Astrophysical Journal 866 14 [10.3847/1538-4357/aadb41] [Journal Article/Letter]

2018. "A Model for Coronal Hole Bright Points and Jets Due to Moving Magnetic Elements." Astrophysical Journal 864 165 [10.3847/1538-4357/aad9f7] [Journal Article/Letter]

2018. "GONG Catalog of Solar Filament Oscillations Near Solar Maximum." The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series 236 (2): 35 [10.3847/1538-4365/aabde7] [Journal Article/Letter]

2018. "Evidence for the Magnetic Breakout Model in an Equatorial Coronal-hole Jet." Astrophysical Journal 854 155 [10.3847/1538-4357/aaab4f] [Journal Article/Letter]

2017. "Reconnection-Driven Magnetohydrodynamic Turbulence in a Simulated Coronal-Hole Jet." Astrophysical Journal 837 123 [10.3847/1538-4357/aa5cb9] [Journal Article/Letter]

2017. "Electron Acceleration in Contracting Magnetic Islands during Solar Flares." Astrophysical Journal 835 48 [10.3847/1538-4357/835/1/48] [Journal Article/Letter]

2017. "Reconnection-Driven Coronal-Hole Jets with Gravity and Solar Wind." Astrophysical Journal 834 62 [10.3847/1538-4357/834/1/62] [Journal Article/Letter]

2016. "A Model for Straight and Helical Solar Jets: II. Parametric Study of the Plasma Beta." Astronomy & Astrophysics 596 A36 [10.1051/0004-6361/201629109] [Journal Article/Letter]

2016. "Three-Dimensional Simulations of Tearing and Intermittency in Coronal Jets." Astrophysical Journal 827 4 [10.3847/0004-637X/827/1/4] [Journal Article/Letter]

2016. "Magnetic-Island Contraction and Particle Acceleration in Simulated Eruptive Solar Flares." Astrophysical Journal 820 60 [10.3847/0004-637x/820/1/60] [Journal Article/Letter]

2015. "A Model for Straight and Helical Solar Jets: I. Parametric Studies of the Magnetic Field Geometry." Astronomy and Astrophysics 573 A130 [10.1051/0004-6361/201424209] [Journal Article/Letter]

2014. "Mass Flows in a Prominence Spine as Observed in EUV." Astrophysical Journal 790 68 [10.1088/0004-637X/790/1/68] [Journal Article/Letter]

2014. "Observations and Implications of Large-Amplitude Longitudinal Oscillations in a Solar Filament,." ApJ 785 79 [10.1088/0004-637X/785/1/79] [Journal Article/Letter]

2014. "Observations and Implications of Large-amplitude Longitudinal Oscillations in a Solar Filament." The Astrophysical Journal 785 (1): [10.1088/0004-637X/785/1/79] [Journal Article/Letter]

2013. "PROMINENCE MASS SUPPLY AND THE CAVITY." ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL 779 [10.1088/0004-637X/779/2/156] [Journal Article/Letter]

2013. "Prominence Mass Supply and the Cavity,." ApJ 779 156 [Journal Article/Letter]

2012. "The Mechanisms for the Onset and Explosive Eruption of Coronal Mass Ejections and Eruptive Flares." Astrophysical Journal 760 81 [10.1088/0004-637X/760/1/81] [Journal Article/Letter]

2012. "Formation and Evolution of a Multi-Threaded Solar Prominence." Astrophysical Journal 746 30 [10.1088/0004-637X/746/1/30] [Journal Article/Letter]

2012. "The Effects of Wave Escape on Fast Magnetosonic Wave Turbulence in Solar Flares." Astrophysical Journal 757 72 [10.1088/0004-637X/757/1/72] [Journal Article/Letter]

2012. "Large Amplitude Longitudinal Oscillations in a Solar Filament,." ApJ 750 L1 [Journal Article/Letter]

2012. "The Mechanisms for the Onset and Explosive Eruption of Coronal Mass Ejections and Eruptive Flares,." Astrophysical Journal 760 81 [Journal Article/Letter]

2012. "Formation and Evolution of a Multi-threaded Solar Prominence,." Astrophysical Journal 746 30 [Journal Article/Letter]

2012. "The Effects of Magnetic-Field Geometry on Longitudinal Oscillations of Solar Prominences,." ApJ 757 98 [Journal Article/Letter]

2011. "Formation and Evolution of a Multi-Threaded Prominence with Different Heating Scenarios." Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society 703- [Journal Article/Letter]

2011. "Forced Magnetic Reconnection at an X-point: Comparative Fluid and Fully Kinetic Studies." AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts 2049- [Journal Article/Letter]

2010. "Physics of Solar Prominences: II—Magnetic Structure and Dynamics,." Space Sci. Rev. 151 333 [Journal Article/Letter]

2010. "Can Thermal Nonequilibrium Explain Coronal Loops?." ApJ 714 1239 [Journal Article/Letter]

2008. "Condensation Formation by Impulsive Heating in Prominences,." ApJ 676 658 [Journal Article/Letter]

2007. "Structure and Dynamics of the Sun's Open Magnetic Field." Astrophysical Journal 671 936 [10.1086/522489] [Journal Article/Letter]

2007. "Structure and Dynamics of the Sun’s Open Magnetic Field,." Astrophysical Journal 671 936 [Journal Article/Letter]

2006. "The Origin of High-Speed Motions and Threads in Prominences,." ApJ 637 531 [Journal Article/Letter]

2005. "Prominence Formation by Thermal Nonequilibrium in the Sheared-Arcade Model." Astrophysical Journal 635 1319 [10.1086/497531] [Journal Article/Letter]

2005. "Prominence Formation by Thermal Nonequilibrium in the Sheared-Arcade Model,." Astrophysical Journal 635 1319 [Journal Article/Letter]

2005. "The Origin of High-Speed Motions and Threads in Solar Prominences." [Journal Article/Letter]

2004. "The Effects of Topology on Magnetic Reconnection." AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts 6- [Journal Article/Letter]

2003. "Constraints on Active Region Coronal Heating,." ApJ 590 547 [Journal Article/Letter]

2003. "Constraints on the Magnetic Field Geometry in Prominences,." ApJ 593 1187 [Journal Article/Letter]

2002. "Coronal Magnetic Field Relaxation by Null-Point Reconnection." Astrophysical Journal 575 578 [10.1086/341193] [Journal Article/Letter]

2002. "Coronal Magnetic Field Relaxation by Null-Point Reconnection,." Astrophysical Journal 575 578 [Journal Article/Letter]

2002. "Constraints placed by thermal nonequilibrium on the topology of prominence magnetic fields." Astrophysical Journal 34 698- [Journal Article/Letter]

2001. "Are Magnetic Dips Necessary for Prominence Formation?." ApJ 553 L85 [Journal Article/Letter]

1998. "Dynamic Responses to Magnetic Reconnection in Solar Arcades." Astrophysical Journal 495 491 [10.1086/305252] [Journal Article/Letter]

1997. "Effects of MHD Instabilities on the Structure of the Slow Solar Wind." Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society 29 881- [Journal Article/Letter]

1996. "Reconnection-Driven Current Filamentation in Solar Arcades." Astrophysical Journal Letters 460 L73 [10.1086/309965] [Journal Article/Letter]

1995. "The Role of Magnetic Reconnection in Chromospheric Eruptions." Astrophysical Journal 450 422 [10.1086/176152] [Journal Article/Letter]

1991. "Coronal Current-Sheet Formation: The Effect of Asymmetric and Symmetric Shears." Astrophysical Journal 382 327 [10.1086/170720] [Journal Article/Letter]

1990. "On the Formation of Current Sheets in the Solar Corona." Astrophysical Journal Letters 356 L67 [10.1086/185751] [Journal Article/Letter]

1989. "Nonlocal Thermal Transport in Solar Flares, II. Spectroscopic Diagnostics." Astrophysical Journal 338 1184 [10.1086/167269] [Journal Article/Letter]

1987. "Nonlinear Evolution of Radiation-Driven Thermally Unstable Fluids." Astrophysical Journal 315 385 [10.1086/165142] [Journal Article/Letter]

1987. "Nonlocal Thermal Transport in Solar Flares." Astrophysical Journal 320 904 [10.1086/165608] [Journal Article/Letter]

1976. "Coordinated X-Ray, Optical, and Radio Observations of YZ Canis Minoris." Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society 8 448- [Journal Article/Letter]

Non-Refereed

2014. "Observational Study of Large Amplitude Longitudinal Oscillations in a Solar Filament." IAU Symposium 300 428-429 [10.1017/S174392131301140X] [Journal Article/Letter]

2011. "Ion-neutral Coupling in Solar Prominences." AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts 1953- [Journal Article/Letter]

2011. "Current-Sheet Formation and Reconnection at a Magnetic X Line in Particle-in-Cell Simulations." AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts A1919- [Journal Article/Letter]