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Nelson Leslie Reginald

Photo of NELSON REGINALD

Nelson Leslie Reginald

  • RESEARCH SCIENTIST
  • 301.286.3040
  • NASA/GSFC
  • Mail Code: 671
  • Greenbelt , MD 20771
  • Employer: CATHOLIC UNIV OF AMERICA

    • Brief Bio

    Dr. Reginald earned his BSc (1994) in Physics and Pure Mathematics from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka and his MS (1997) and PhD (2001) in Physics from the University of Delaware, USA. Dr. Reginald held a NASA research fellowship through the University of Delaware and conducted his dissertation work at Goddard under the supervision of Dr. Joseph M. Davila. Upon graduation Dr. Reginald continued his work at Goddard through The Catholic University of America working as a team member for the COR1 instrument on STEREO, SPICE instrument to be deployed on Solar Orbiter and GMC instrument that is currently being designed and tested.
     

    Research Interests

    Simultaneous and Global Measurements of both the Electron Temperature and its Radial Flow Speed

    We designed  the Multi Aperture Coronal Spectrograph (MACS) and the Imaging Spectrograph of Coronal Electrons (ISCORE)  to conduct ground experiments during total solar eclipses to simultaneously and globally measure the electron temperature and its radial flow speed. These experiments were conducted in conjunction with the total solar eclipses of 1999 in Turkey, 2001 in Zambia, 2002 in South Africa, 2006 in Libya and 2008 in China.

    Current Projects

    Instrumentation

    Member of the team designing, testing and building the detector for the Spectral Imaging of the Coronal Environment (SPICE) instrument that will fly on-board the Solar Orbiter spacecraft in 2018. The Goddard team is led by Dr. Joseph M. Davila.

    Member of the team designing and testing the coronagraph for the Goddard Mini Coronagraph (GMC) instrument. The Goddard team is led by Dr. Natchimuthuk Gopalswamy.
     

    Education

    1973-1986:
    S.Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia, Sri Lanka (Grade1-12) G.C.E. Ordinary Level (1982), Advanced Level (1985)
    1988-1990:
    Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), United Kingdom
    Management Accountant (1990)
    1990-1993:
    University of Peradeniya, Department of Physics, Sri Lanka,
    B.Sc. (Hon.) (1993) Major/Minor in Physics/Pure Mathematics
    External examiner: Prof. Arnold Wolfendale, Astronomer Royal, UK
    1994-1997:
    University of Delaware, Department of Physics and Astronomy, USA
    MS (1997)
    Thesis title: 'The effects of element diffusion in the horizontal branch morphology of globular cluster stars '
    Thesis committee chairman: James MacDonald, Ph.D.
    1997:
    International Summer School on Sun as seen from Space, L'Aquila, Italy
    1998-2000:
    University of Delaware, Department of Physics and Astronomy, USA
    Ph.D. (2000)
    Thesis title: 'MACS, an Instrument and a methodology for Simultaneous and Global Measurements of the Coronal Electron Temperature and the Solar Wind Velocity on the Solar Corona'
    Thesis supervisor at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center: Joseph M. Davila, Ph.D.
    Thesis committee chairman: Dermott J. Mullan, Ph.D.

    Professional Societies

    American Physical Society , 2001 - Present
    Member
    American Geophysical Union, 2014 - Present
    Member
    American Astronomical Society, 2014 - Present
    Member

    Awards

    1990: University Scholarship for topping the batch in the GSQ examination, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
    1992: Prof. Arnold Wolfendale Prize for Physics, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
    1993: Dr. H.W. Hewavitharana Prize for Physics, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
    1994-1997: Full tuition scholarship and teaching assistantship, University of Delaware, USA
    1998-2000: NASA Research Fellowship administered through the University of Delaware, USA

    Other Professional Information

    1978-1985: Field Hockey, S. Thomas' College, Awarded Colours 1985
    1978-1985: Basketball, S. Thomas' College, Awarded Colours 1985
    1984-1985: Diving, S. Thomas' College, Awarded Colours, 1985
    1980-1984: Cadet Corps, S. Thomas' College
    1984-1985: Member Boxing Squad, S. Thomas' College
    1990-1992: Rugby, University of Peradeniya, Awarded Colours 1992
    1992: First place in the inter-university quiz competition in physics
    Represented the Department of Physics, University of Peradeniya
    1990-1992: Field Hockey, University of Peradeniya, Awarded Colours 1992

    Selected Publications

    Refereed

    Reginald, N. L., J. M. Davila, O. C. St Cyr, and L. Rastaetter. 2014. "Evaluating the Uncertainties in the Electron Temperature and Radial Speed Measurements Using White Light Corona Eclipse Observations." Evaluating the Uncertainties in the Electron Temperature and Radial Speed Measurements Using White Light Corona Eclipse Observations, 289 (6): 2021-2039 [Full Text (Link)] [10.1007/s11207-013-0467-5]

    Reginald, N. L., O. C. St Cyr, J. M. Davila, et al. D. M. Rabin, M. Guhathakurta, and D. M. Hassler. 2009. "Electron-Temperature Maps of the Low Solar Corona: ISCORE Results from the Total Solar Eclipse of 29 March 2006 in Libya." Electron-Temperature Maps of the Low Solar Corona: ISCORE Results from the Total Solar Eclipse of 29 March 2006 in Libya, 260 (2): 347-361 [Full Text (Link)] [10.1007/s11207-009-9457-z]

    Reginald, N. L., J. M. Davila, and O. C. St Cyr. 2004. "The Effects of Streamers on the Shape of the K-Coronal Spectrum." The Effects of Streamers on the Shape of the K-Coronal Spectrum, 225 (2): 249-265 [Full Text (Link)] [10.1007/s11207-004-3516-2]

    Reginald, N. L., O. C. St Cyr, J. M. Davila, and J. W. Brosius. 2003. "Electron Temperature and Speed Measurements in the Low Solar Corona: Results From the 2001 June Eclipse." Electron Temperature and Speed Measurements in the Low Solar Corona: Results From the 2001 June Eclipse, 599 (1): 596-603 [Full Text (Link)] [10.1086/379148]

    Reginald, N. L., and J. M. Davila. 2000. "MACS for Global measurement of the Solar wind velocity and the Thermal electron temperature during the Total solar eclipse on 11 August 1999." MACS for Global measurement of the Solar wind velocity and the Thermal electron temperature during the Total solar eclipse on 11 August 1999, 195 (1): 111-122 [Full Text (Link)] [10.1023/A:1005251808764]

    Brief Bio

    Dr. Reginald earned his BSc (1994) in Physics and Pure Mathematics from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka and his MS (1997) and PhD (2001) in Physics from the University of Delaware, USA. Dr. Reginald held a NASA research fellowship through the University of Delaware and conducted his dissertation work at Goddard under the supervision of Dr. Joseph M. Davila. Upon graduation Dr. Reginald continued his work at Goddard through The Catholic University of America working as a team member for the COR1 instrument on STEREO, SPICE instrument to be deployed on Solar Orbiter and GMC instrument that is currently being designed and tested.
     

    Selected Publications

    Refereed

    Reginald, N. L., J. M. Davila, O. C. St Cyr, and L. Rastaetter. 2014. "Evaluating the Uncertainties in the Electron Temperature and Radial Speed Measurements Using White Light Corona Eclipse Observations." Evaluating the Uncertainties in the Electron Temperature and Radial Speed Measurements Using White Light Corona Eclipse Observations 289 (6): 2021-2039 [Full Text (Link)] [10.1007/s11207-013-0467-5]

    Reginald, N. L., O. C. St Cyr, J. M. Davila, et al. D. M. Rabin, M. Guhathakurta, and D. M. Hassler. 2009. "Electron-Temperature Maps of the Low Solar Corona: ISCORE Results from the Total Solar Eclipse of 29 March 2006 in Libya." Electron-Temperature Maps of the Low Solar Corona: ISCORE Results from the Total Solar Eclipse of 29 March 2006 in Libya 260 (2): 347-361 [Full Text (Link)] [10.1007/s11207-009-9457-z]

    Reginald, N. L., J. M. Davila, and O. C. St Cyr. 2004. "The Effects of Streamers on the Shape of the K-Coronal Spectrum." The Effects of Streamers on the Shape of the K-Coronal Spectrum 225 (2): 249-265 [Full Text (Link)] [10.1007/s11207-004-3516-2]

    Reginald, N. L., O. C. St Cyr, J. M. Davila, and J. W. Brosius. 2003. "Electron Temperature and Speed Measurements in the Low Solar Corona: Results From the 2001 June Eclipse." Electron Temperature and Speed Measurements in the Low Solar Corona: Results From the 2001 June Eclipse 599 (1): 596-603 [Full Text (Link)] [10.1086/379148]

    Reginald, N. L., and J. M. Davila. 2000. "MACS for Global measurement of the Solar wind velocity and the Thermal electron temperature during the Total solar eclipse on 11 August 1999." MACS for Global measurement of the Solar wind velocity and the Thermal electron temperature during the Total solar eclipse on 11 August 1999 195 (1): 111-122 [Full Text (Link)] [10.1023/A:1005251808764]

                                                                                                                                                                                            
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    • Last Updated: 05/30/2023