Brief Bio

Dr. William Thompson has been a member of the Solar Physics

Laboratory since he first came to Goddard in 1984. He is

currently Chief Observer for NASA's Solar and Terrestrial

Observatory (STEREO) mission. As Chief Observer, he runs the

STEREO Science Center, which is responsible for archiving the

science data, processing the real-time space weather beacon data,

and general science coordination between the instruments and with

other missions and observatories.

While in graduate school at the University of Massachusetts at

Amherst, Dr. Thompson worked on the measurement of azimuthal

brightness variations in Saturn's A ring, and used Monte Carlo

simulations to study the possible physical interpretation of

these variations for his doctoral thesis.

After recieving his Ph.D., and before coming to Goddard,

Dr. Thompson spent two years as a lecturer in the Department of

Physics and Astronomy at San Francisco State University.

In his inital years at Goddard, Dr. Thompson worked on the Solar

Extreme-ultraviolet Rocket Telescope and Spectrograph sounding

rocket experiment, and analyzed data from the Ultraviolet

Spectrometer and Polarimeter instrument on NASA's Solar Maximum

Mission. This work led to him becoming involved in the

development and subsequent operations of the Coronal Diagnostics

Spectrometer instrument for the NASA/ESA Solar and Heliospheric

Observatory (SOHO) mission.

Later, Dr. Thompson worked on the development of the optics for

the COR1 coronagraph on the STEREO mission, and continues to

monitor the performance of the instrument in flight. Along with

the COR1 work for STEREO, Dr. Thompson designed the STEREO

Science Center (SSC), and wrote most of the software that allows

it to function. The SSC archives all the science data from the

instruments, along with ancillary data from the Mission

Operations Center. Ephemeris data for the two spacecraft are

organized to assist the instrument teams with their science

planning and data analysis. In addition, real-time beacon

telemetry data from the two spacecraft are processed within

minutes for use in space weather forecasting. Higher resolution

data are also processed into images and movies as browse

products. These beacon and browse products have gone on to

become incorporated into other venues such as Science-on-a-Sphere

and other spherical projection systems in museums, and the 3D Sun

app for the iPad.

In addition to his duties for STEREO, Dr. Thompson is involved in two aspects of the European Space Agency's Solar Orbiter program. Dr. Thompson was part of the team which developed the detector for the Spectral Imaging

of the Coronal Environment (SPICE) instrument, and is part of the SPICE team at Goddard. One of his duties is helping to keep track of any changes in the detector response. He also maintains a NASA mirror of the official Solar Orbiter archive.

Publications

Refereed

Brooks, D. H., M. Janvier, D. Baker, et al. H. P. Warren, F. Auchère, M. Carlsson, A. Fludra, D. Hassler, H. Peter, D. Müller, D. Williams, R. A. Cuadrado, K. Barczynski, E. Buchlin, M. Caldwell, T. Fredvik, A. Giunta, T. Grundy, S. Guest, M. Haberreiter, L. Harra, S. Leeks, S. Parenti, G. Pelouze, J. Plowman, W. Schmutz, U. Schuehle, S. Sidher, L. Teriaca, W. T. Thompson, and P. R. Young. 2022. "Plasma Composition Measurements in an Active Region from Solar Orbiter/SPICE and Hinode/EIS." The Astrophysical Journal 940 (1): 66 [10.3847/1538-4357/ac9b0b]

Fludra, A., M. Caldwell, A. Giunta, et al. T. Grundy, S. Guest, S. Leeks, S. Sidher, F. Auchère, M. Carlsson, D. Hassler, H. Peter, R. Aznar Cuadrado, É. Buchlin, S. Caminade, C. DeForest, T. Fredvik, M. Haberreiter, L. Harra, M. Janvier, T. Kucera, D. Müller, S. Parenti, W. Schmutz, U. Schühle, S. K. Solanki, L. Teriaca, W. T. Thompson, S. Tustain, D. Williams, P. R. Young, and L. P. Chitta. 2021. "First observations from the SPICE EUV spectrometer on Solar Orbiter." Astronomy & Astrophysics 656 A38 [10.1051/0004-6361/202141221]

Thompson, W. T. 2017. "No pre-maximum halt in classical nova V5589 Sgr observed with STEREO HI-1B." Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 470 (4): 4061-4065 [10.1093/mnras/stx1552]

Wang, T., N. L. Reginald, J. M. Davila, O. C. St Cyr, and W. T. Thompson. 2017. "Variation of Coronal Activity from the Minimum to Maximum of Solar Cycle 24 using Three Dimensional Coronal Electron Density Reconstructions from STEREO/COR1." Solar Physics 292 (8): 97 (32 pp) [10.1007/s11207-017-1130-3]

Villarreal, M. N., C. T. Russell, J. G. Luhmann, et al. W. T. Thompson, T. H. Prettyman, M. F. A’Hearn, M. Küppers, L. O’Rourke, and C. A. Raymond. 2017. "The Dependence of the Cerean Exosphere on Solar Energetic Particle Events." The Astrophysical Journal 838 (1): L8 [10.3847/2041-8213/aa66cd]

Thompson, W. T. 2015. "Linear Polarization Measurements of Comet C/2011 W3 (Lovejoy) from STEREO." Icarus 261 122-132 [10.1016/j.icarus.2015.08.018]

Rots, A. H., P. S. Bunclark, M. R. Calabretta, et al. S. L. Allen, R. N. Manchester, and W. T. Thompson. 2015. "Representations of Time Coordinates in FITS. Time and Relative Dimension in Space." Astronomy & Astrophysics 574 A36 [10.1051/0004-6361/201424653]

Aschwanden, M. J., J.-P. Wülser, N. V. Nitta, et al. J. R. Lemen, S. Freeland, and W. T. Thompson. 2014. "STEREO/Extreme-Ultraviolet Imager (EUVI) Event Catalog 2006-2012." Solar Physics 289 (3): 919-938 [10.1007/s11207-013-0378-5]

Thompson, W. T. 2013. "Alternating Twist Along an Erupting Prominence." Solar Physics 283 (2): 489-504 [ 10.1007/s11207-013-0228-5]

Fludra, A., D. Griffin, M. Caldwell, et al. P. Eccleston, J. Cornaby, D. Drummond, W. Grainger, P. Greenway, T. Grundy, C. Howe, C. McQuirk, K. Middleton, O. Poyntz-Wright, A. Richards, K. Rogers, C. Sawyer, B. Shaughnessy, S. Sidher, I. Tosh, S. Beardsley, G. Burton, A. Marshall, N. Waltham, S. Woodward, T. Appourchaux, A. Philippon, F. Auchere, E. Buchlin, A. Gabriel, J. C. Vial, U. Schuehle, W. Curdt, D. Innes, S. Meining, H. Peter, S. Solanki, L. Teriaca, M. Gyo, V. Buechel, M. Haberreiter, D. Pfiffner, W. Schmutz, M. Carlsson, S. V. Haugan, J. M. Davila, P. Jordan, W. T. Thompson, D. Hassler, B. Walls, C. Deforest, J. Hanley, J. Johnson, P. Phelan, L. Blecha, H. Cottard, G. Paciotti, N. Autissier, Y. Allemand, K. Relecom, G. Munro, A. Butler, R. Klein, and A. Gottwald. 2013. "SPICE EUV spectrometer for the Solar Orbiter mission." SOLAR PHYSICS AND SPACE WEATHER INSTRUMENTATION V 8862 [10.1117/12.2027581]

Frazin, R. A., A. M. Vásquez, W. T. Thompson, et al. R. J. Hewett, P. Lamy, A. LLebaria, A. Vourlidas, and J. Burkepile. 2012. "Intercomparison of the LASCO-C2, SECCHI-COR1, SECCHI-COR2 and Mk4 Coronagraphs." Solar Physics 280 (1): 273-293 [10.1007/s11207-012-0028-3]

Martínez Oliveros, J.-C., H. S. Hudson, G. J. Hurford, et al. S. Krucker, R. P. Lin, C. Lindsey, S. Couvidat, J. Schou, and W. T. Thompson. 2012. "The Height of a White-light Flare and its Hard X-ray Sources." The Astrophysical Journal Letters 753 (2): L26 [10.1088/2041-8205/753/2/L26]

Kliem, B., W. Torok, and W. T. Thompson. 2012. "A Parameteric Study of Erupting Flux Rope Rotation. Modeling the "Cartwheel CME" on 9 April 2008." Solar Physics 281 (1): 137-166 [ 10.1007/s11207-012-9990-z]

Thompson, W. T., B. Kliem, and T. Torok. 2012. "3D Reconstruction of a Rotating Erupting Prominence." Solar Physics 276 (1-2): 241-259 [ 10.1007/s11207-011-9868-5]

Hudson, H. S., J. Martinez-Oliveros, S. Krucker, et al. G. Hurford, W. Thompson, J. Schou, S. Couvidat, and C. Lindsey. 2012. "Direct Measurement Of The Height Of A White-light Flare." American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #220 220 #204.41-

Gopalswamy, N., W. Thompson, J. Davila, et al. M. Kaiser, S. Yashiro, P. Måkelå, G. Michalek, J. Bougeret, and R. Howard. 2012. "Erratum: Relation Between Type II Bursts and CMEs Inferred from STEREO Observations." Solar Physics 277 459 [ 10.1007/s11207-011-9918-z]

Thompson, W. T., J. M. Davila, O. C. St. Cyr, and N. L. Reginald. 2011. "STEREO/SECCHI COR1-A/B Intercalibration at 180° Separation." Solar Physics 272 (1): 215-225 [10.1007/s11207-011-9815-5]

Liewer, P. C., J. R. Hall, R. A. Howard, et al. E. M. De Jong, W. T. Thompson, and A. Thernisien. 2011. "Stereoscopic Analysis of STEREO/SECCHI Data for CME Trajectory Determination." Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics 73 (10): 1173-1186 [10.1016/j.jastp.2010.09.004]

Thompson, W. T., J. B. Gurman, T. A. Kucera, et al. R. A. Howard, A. Vourlidas, J. Wuelser, and D. Pesnell. 2011. "Viewing The Entire Sun With STEREO And SDO." Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society 1835-

Thompson, W. T., J. M. Davila, O. C. St Cyr, and N. L. Reginald. 2011. "STEREO SECCHI COR1-A/B Intercalibration at 180° Separation." Solar Physics 272 (1): 215-225 [10.1007/s11207-011-9815-5]

Thompson, W. T. 2010. "Strong Rotation of an Erupting Quiescent Polar Crown Prominence." Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics 73 (10): 1138-1147 [10.1016/j.jastp.2010.07.005]

Thompson, W. T., K. Wei, J. T. Burkepile, J. M. Davila, and O. C. St Cyr. 2010. "Background Subtraction for the SECCHI/COR1 Telescope Aboard STEREO." Solar Physics 262 213-231 [10.1007/s11207-010-9513-8]

St Cyr, O. C., H. Xie, M. L. Mays, et al. J. M. Davila, H. R. Gilbert, S. I. Jones, W. D. Pesnell, N. Gopalswamy, J. B. Gurman, S. Yashiro, J. Wuelser, R. A. Howard, B. J. Thompson, and W. T. Thompson. 2009. "Recent STEREO Observations of Coronal Mass Ejections." AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts A1491-

Gopalswamy, N., S. Yashiro, M. Temmer, et al. J. M. Davila, W. T. Thompson, S. I. Jones, R. T. Mcateer, J. Wuelser, S. L. Freeland, and R. A. Howard. 2009. "EUV Wave Reflection from a Coronal Hole." The Astrophysical Journal 691 (2): L123-L127 [10.1088/0004-637X/691/2/L123]

Gopalswamy, N., W. Thompson, J. Davila, et al. M. Kaiser, S. Yashiro, P. auml;kelä, G. Michalek, J. Bougeret, and R. Howard. 2009. "Relation Between Type II Bursts and CMEs Inferred from STEREO Observations." Solar Physics 259 227-254 [ 10.1007/s11207-009-9382-1]

Mierla, M., J. Davila, W. Thompson, et al. B. Inhester, N. Srivastava, M. Kramar, O. C. StCyr, G. Stenborg, and R. A. Howard. 2008. "A Quick Method for Estimating the Propagation Direction of Coronal Mass Ejections Using STEREO-COR1 Images." Solar Physics 252 385-396 [10.1007/s11207-008-9267-8]

Plunkett, S. P., R. A. Howard, J. D. Moses, et al. A. Vourlidas, D. Socker, J. Newmark, D. Wang, R. Baugh, J. Davila, W. Thompson, O. C. StCyr, J. Lemen, J. P. Wuelser, R. A. Harrison, N. Waltham, C. J. Davis, C. J. Eyles, J. M. Defise, J. P. Halain, V. Bothmer, J. P. Delaboudiniere, F. Auchere, R. Mercier, and M. F. Ravet. 2007. "Stereo Observations Of The Solar Corona Using The Secchi Experiment." Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society 39 #119.01-

McAteer, J., J. Davilla, W. Thompson, O. StCyr, and R. O. Milligan. 2007. "Early SECCHI Observations Of CME Initiation And Propagation." Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society 39 137-

StCyr, O. C., J. M. Davila, W. Thompson, et al. B. J. Thompson, J. B. Gurman, J. T. Burkepile, and G. deToma. 2007. "Early Results from STEREO SECCHI COR1." Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society 39 #119.03-

Luhmann, J., W. Thompson, P. Schroeder, et al. C. O. Lee, C. T. Russell, A. Galvin, R. Howard, M. Kaiser, D. Odstrcil, C. N. Arge, P. Riley, and P. MacNeice. 2006. "Space Weather Studies at the Planets Enabled by the STEREO Mission." Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society 38 567-

Ko, Y.-K., J. C. Raymond, S. E. Gibson, et al. D. Alexander, L. Strachan, T. Holzer, H. Gilbert, O. C. StCyr, B. J. Thompson, C. D. Pike, H. E. Mason, J. Burkepile, W. Thompson, and L. Fletcher. 2005. "Multialtitude Observations of a Coronal Jet during the Third Whole Sun Month Campaign." The Astrophysical Journal 623 519-539 [10.1086/428479]

Mobius, E., M. Bzowski, S. Chalov, et al. H.-J. Fahr, G. Gloeckler, V. Izmodenov, R. Kallenbach, R. Lallement, D. McMullin, H. Noda, M. Oka, A. Pauluhn, J. Raymond, D. Rucinski, R. Skoug, T. Terasawa, W. Thompson, J. Vallerga, R. von Steiger, and M. Witte. 2004. "Synopsis of the interstellar He parameters from combined neutral gas, pickup ion and UV scattering observations and related consequences." Astronomy and Astrophysics 426 897-907 [10.1051/0004-6361:20035834]

Ko, Y.-K., J. C. Raymond, S. E. Gibson, et al. D. Alexander, L. Strachan, T. Holzer, H. Gilbert, O. C. StCyr, B. J. Thompson, C. D. Pike, J. Burkepile, W. Thompson, and L. Fletcher. 2004. "Multi-Altitude Observations of a Coronal Jet." Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society 36 759-

Brekke, P., W. Thompson, J. Pap, and D. McMullin. 2002. "EUV irradiance measurements from SOHO during Cycle 23." 34th COSPAR Scientific Assembly 34 -

Fludra, A., J. Ireland, G. Del Zanna, and W. T. Thompson. 2002. "The solar corona in cycle 23." Advances in Space Research 29 361-372 [10.1016/S0273-1177(01)00598-1]

Regnier, S., K. Bocchialini, J.-C. Vial, J.-P. Delaboudiniere, and W. Thompson. 1998. "Analyse statistique de points brillants solaires observés par le satellite SOHO." Comptes Rendus de l'Académie des Sciences - Series IIB - Mechanics-Physics-Chemistry-Astronomy 326 (3): 211-218 [10.1016/S1251-8069(99)89010-1]

Thompson, W., and R. Yurow. 1994. "Searching the SOHO online catalogs." Solar Dynamic Phenomena and Solar Wind Consequences; the Third SOHO Workshop 373 429-

Brosius, J. W., J. M. Davila, H. H. Jones, et al. W. T. Thompson, R. J. Thomas, G. D. Holman, S. H. White, N. Gopalswamy, and M. Kundu. 1993. "Analysis of EUV, Microwave and Magnetic Field Observations of Solar Plage." IAU Colloq 141: The Magnetic and Velocity Fields of Solar Active Regions 46 291- 294

Brosius, J., J. Davila, W. Thompson, et al. R. Thomas, G. Holman, N. Gopalswamy, S. White, M. Kundu, and H. Jones. 1993. "Simultaneous observations of solar plage with the solar extreme ultraviolet rocket telescope and spectrograph (SERTS), the VLA, and the Kitt Peak magnetograph." The Astrophysical Journal 411 410-417 [10.1086/172843]

Thompson, W. 1986. "Searching the UVSP (Ultraviolet Spectrometer and Polarimeter) database, and a list of experiments showing massmotions." NASA Conference Publication 2442 191-196

Thompson, W. 1986. "Searching the UVSP (Ultraviolet Spectrometer and Polarimeter) database, and a list of experiments showing massmotions." NASA Conference Publication 2442 191-196

Thompson, W., D. Vanblerkom, and W. M. Irvine. 1984. "A model containing blobs for the A ring of Saturn." Planetary Rings 93-98

Thompson, W., K. Lumme, W. M. Irvine, W. A. Baum, and L. W. Esposito. 1980. "Saturn's Rings : Azimuthal Variations, Phase Curves, and Radial Profile Observed at Three Tilt Angles." Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society 12 699-

Thompson, W., K. Lumme, W. M. Irvine, W. A. Baum, and L. W. Esposito. 1980. "Saturn's Rings : Azimuthal Variations, Phase Curves, and Radial Profile Observed at Three Tilt Angles." Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society 12 699-

Lumme, K., W. Thompson, W. M. Irvine, et al. L. Esposito, W. A. Baum, and L. J. Martin. 1979. "International Planetary Patrol Observations of Saturn's Rings." Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society 11 556-

Lumme, K., W. Thompson, W. M. Irvine, et al. L. Esposito, W. A. Baum, and L. J. Martin. 1979. "International Planetary Patrol Observations of Saturn's Rings." Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society 11 556-

Non-Refereed

Bryans, P., M. AHearn, K. Battams, et al. D. Biesecker, D. Bodewits, D. Boice, J. Brown, A. Caspi, P. Chodas, H. Hudson, Y. Jia, G. Jones, H. U. Keller, M. Knight, J. Linker, C. Lisse, W. Liu, S. McIntosh, W. D. Pesnell, J. Raymond, S. Saar, P. Saint-Hilaire, C. Schrijver, M. Snow, T. Tarbell, W. Thompson, and P. Weissman. 2012. "The Journey of Sungrazing Comet Lovejoy." American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #220 220 #525.07-

StCyr, O. C., H. Xie, M. L. Mays, et al. J. M. Davila, H. R. Gilbert, S. I. Jones, W. D. Pesnell, N. Gopalswamy, J. B. Gurman, S. Yashiro, J. Wuelser, R. A. Howard, B. J. Thompson, and W. T. Thompson. 2009. "Recent STEREO Observations of Coronal Mass Ejections." AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts A1491-

Thompson, W. T., M. L. Kaiser, T. A. Kucera, et al. J. M. Davila, J. A. Hourclé, and P. Schroeder. 2005. "STEREO's Interactions With the Virtual Solar and Heliospheric Observatories." AGU Spring Meeting Abstracts 6-

Thompson, W. T., M. Kaiser, and T. A. Kucera. 2004. "The STEREO Science Center." Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society 36 799-