A book exploring the sun and interplanetary space co-edited by, New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) Professor of Physics Dale Gary, PhD was released this past week. Solar and Space Weather Radiophysics Current Status and Future Developments, published by Springer Publishing Company, is a 400-page hard-cover text which is part of a series about astrophysics and space science. Gary’s co-editor is Christoph Keller, associate astronomer at the National Solar Observatory, Tucson.
“The book explores the Sun and interplanetary space using present-day and future radio observations and techniques,” said Gary of Berkeley Heights. Gary, who builds radio telescopes, belongs to a larger group of notable solar physicists, based at NJIT and Big Bear Solar Observatory, CA. NJIT took over management of the observatory in 1997 from California Institute of Technology (Caltech).
Gary also directs the Owens Valley Solar Array Radio Telescope, located at Caltech’s Owens Valley Radio Observatory, where he is a visiting associate professor. NJIT solar physicists are known for building the world’s best solar telescopes.
The book emphasizes the interpretation of radio data with high spatial and spectral resolution, motivated by the planned construction of a new, powerful, solar-dedicated radio array called the Frequency Agile Solar Radiotelescope (FASR). Gary has been one of the lead people on this project which aims to set up around the world a network of radio telescopes to collect this information.
The book explores a broad frequency range, which corresponds to heights ranging from the low solar atmosphere out to the Earth. Also included is a thorough review of the entire field of solar and space weather radio research.
“I think the background information that we collected makes the text readable for advanced undergraduates but its audience is more graduate students and researchers in solar and space Weather research and related fields,” said Gary.
The text examines what new results may be expected in the next two decades with FASR and other new instruments now under development. “The individual chapters are written by international experts in each topic,” Gary added. “Although each chapter may be read as a stand-alone article, the ordering of the chapters and the topical development makes the book readable from beginning to end, to provide an excellent understanding of the field as a whole.
