The IMAP payload instruments and systems are developing quickly – much like the growth and transformation that April and May bring each spring. While work continues on each component at the many partner institute homes during our current engineering model build and test phase, it is a great moment to feature another of IMAP’s instruments and its special detecting capabilities. The Solar Wind and Pickup Ion instrument, or SWAPIThe Solar Wind and Pickup Ion (SWAPI) instrument collects and counts solar wind particles and pick-up ions (PUIs)., is designed to measure the bulk flow of solar wind ions, giving us information about what is happening in the solar wind in near-real timeA measure of the flow of events.. SWAPI also measures interstellar pickup ions that come in from beyond our solar system as neutral atoms and then become ionized and subsequently move outward along with the solar wind. Collectively, these data will be valuable in understanding how the solar wind changes in response to the Sun’s behavior over time. SWAPI’s unique high time resolution measurements of helium PUIs will additionally provide key new insights into the physical processes that accelerate charged particles and shape and change our global heliosphereThe bubble-like region surrounding the solar system inflated by the solar wind, shielding the solar system from interstellar radiation.. 

Currently, SWAPI’s engineering model has been built and the mechanical systems assembled. Multiple tests have successfully completed, with some intriguing results. For example, after each brief vibration test, SWAPI’s EM must also pass the “inverted acoustic test” which occurs after it is removed from the vibration table. The instrument model is carefully turned upside down, held near the tester’s ear, and given a shake. If a rattle is detected, it indicates that we have to stop and disassemble to see what has come loose or broken during the test. After completion of all of the vibration tests and these “very technical” assessments we do a full disassembly and inspection to ensure that everything is still in perfect shape, as it was before the testing. After two rounds of multiple-axis tests, SWAPI’s EM fully passed! The ion beam tests of SWAPI’s mechanical assembly also are returning great results on the level of design optimization.

While SWAPI has roots in a heritage design from another mission, testing also allows the design to be improved and made more optimized for the IMAP mission and science goals. In testing SWAPI’s ion detection devices, measurement data revealed that there was some ion scatter occurring from a deflector that remained from the heritage instrument design. After removing it, follow up tests revealed a beautiful extended passband shape that will give higher sensitivity and a better pickup ion measurements. 

The ability to optimize SWAPI’s design and improve data quality, such as with the deflector removal, is the result of a unique opportunity at the Space Physics at Princeton Lab. Parallel to SWAPI’s build, new lab facilities have been built up on site. Having access to new equipment and facilities has afforded the SWAPI team the ability to explore subtle design changes in the instrument model and be able to then retest and see how the changes impact the data in real time. Because of this, the SWAPI team has been able to discover a number of ways in which to optimize and simplify the design. 

Having access to these new facilities also provides opportunities to the next generation of STEMSTEM is an approach to education that focuses on strengthening competencies in the above fields, developing critical thinking skills, and improving problem-solving abilities. professionals, providing Princeton students valuable experience in working with the IMAP mission spacecraft through all phases. It has also opened opportunities to connect undergraduate students with post-docs and field experts as mentors. Students participating at Space Physics Lab are able to be involved in existing testing and design projects, as well as develop projects for credited classes that also benefits the optimization of SWAPI. For example, there are current students developing a setup that enables the foil to be floated in the SWAPI EM. The process involves taking scanning microscope measurements to determine the thickness of the foil and the amount of carbon foilA thin layer of carbon that is used for ion and neutral atom detection in space plasma instruments. The foil is made from pure carbon that is arc evaporated onto glass slides that are coated with a surfactant, which allows the foil to slide off the glass. that results compared to contaminates detected through surface analysis. Their work could possibly help determine future directions of the foil making process for the flight instrument. It is an extremely exciting time for students and SWAPI team members alike. 

Being able to build up a lab parallel to building an instrument, while also developing ways to incorporate student involvement and assisting in overseeing the build and data analysis of this instrument takes a person with dedication, experience, knowledge, and passion for all aspects of these areas. Jamie Rankin, the deputy instrument lead for SWAPI at Princeton is one of those types of people. I have had the fortune to work with Jamie as a student on past missions, and now as a teammate in her position on SWAPI. It is a great pleasure for me to introduce you to her and her work. 

IMAP Team Spotlight Feature: Jamie Rankin

“I'm so excited about this opportunity of seeing something built from the ground up and then sent into space to take new science data…it's amazing to be a part of that full process. I couldn't think of a better line of work.”   

As the deputy instrument lead for SWAPI, Jamie Rankin has much to be excited about. Working out of the newly developed Space Physics Lab at Princeton University, she sees what a unique opportunity she has there in being able to assist leading the instrument team while also building in student opportunity for the Princeton space physics students to contribute to. 

“I've absolutely loved seeing the [SWAPI] team come together. Building up the team, working with a variety of personalities, seeing where people’s strengths are, and putting folks on projects that best utilize their skill sets, has all been an interesting and exciting challenge. Learning how to lead well is definitely an iterative process, but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed getting to know this wonderful group of people. It’s wonderful to be a part of a team that is so well unified in working towards a common set of goals. At Princeton, there has been a whole mix of building going on: building up the lab, building up the instrument, and building up the team.” 

“It's been really cool to learn, train, and grow directly through experience while serving as deputy lead of SWAPI on IMAP, but having the people mentoring me on the IMAP team, and, for example, being part of HeliophysicsThe study of the Sun and its connection to the solar system, including the physical processes that occur in the space environment. Future Leader program has also been a major part of my growth…It's been such a privilege to mentor people and be mentored…It's also been amazing to mentor students as they’re coming in and learning how to do this for the first time. I am very thankful for these opportunities.” 

Jamie co-leads a credited undergraduate lab class in the Space Physics Lab with Dave McComas, SWAPI Instrument Lead and IMAP mission PI, that offers practical real-world experience to work with spacecraft instrument design, testing, and data collection with the SWAPI instrument. Additionally, the students develop skills for project and research development, as well as mentoring support from the team of astrophysics and engineering postdocs and field experts at Princeton.  

“We’re the only group with a major on-site lab in the Princeton astrophysical sciences department. We get a mixture of astrophysics students that like to do hands-on work and we are able to provide a lab space that otherwise wouldn't be available to them. We also have many mechanical and aerospace engineering students that come in to gain real-world experience. So, we have a nice blend of students studying to be scientists and engineers; we occasionally get people from other majors as well.”    

Jamie sees working with the students as an opportunity to extend to the next generation of scientists and engineers the mentoring and support she received from her bachelor’s to her PhD. 

“I actually had a phenomenal mentoring experience as an undergrad. In fact, having such good mentors really early on played a huge role in getting me to where I am now.”    

As the first in her family to pursue graduate studies, she has an abundance of gratitude for her professors for their guidance and encouragement that took her further afield to unforeseen chances to work with notable people on notable research.     

“My undergraduate professors put me in touch with people who they knew could give some valuable advice concerning what to do beyond college; these people became really close friends and mentors on the next step. Getting a PhD from Caltech was an amazing opportunity, which, to some extent was made possible because these mentors had the foresight to say [to me] in undergrad ‘You shouldn't stay here, you can do better.’” 

The research opportunities Jamie had also contributed to leading her to her current position.  

“I had a phenomenal experience getting involved with research early on as a freshman. There's a really cool Women-In-Science program that I was a part of [ACCESS scholars] where, during the summer after high school, we spent eight weeks in a cohort and learned how to carry out lab work in every area of the sciences, under the supervision of professors who would come in and teach each week. After that summer, we were given a scholarship that actually placed us early on in in research setting. So, from my freshman year all the way through, even in my gap year, I was doing research.”    

In that gap year, Jamie was able to take a research position with one of the largest cosmic ray observatories in the world. Here she fell in love with the observational aspects of energetic particle physics and cosmic raysCharged atomic particles moving in space with very high energies and velocities close to the speed of light; most originate beyond the solar system, but some of relatively low energy area produced in solar flares (called Solar Energetic Particles), and some intermediate energy, called anomalous cosmic rays, are produced at the edge of our solar system..  

“Particles are the fundamental building blocks of everything, and I loved the part of directly observing them from nature. My gap year experience showed me that I wanted to do observational-based research on particles from space.”   

At Caltech, Jamie had the opportunity to join Ed Stone’s Voyager group as his first doctoral student in over two decades, right as Voyager 1 had crossed the solar system boundary into the interstellar mediumThe interstellar medium is the matter that exists in the space between the stars within a galaxy. This matter includes ionized and electrically neutral gas (primarily hydrogen and helium), dust, and cosmic rays. The ISM plays a crucial role in the lifecycle of stars and galaxies. It is the reservoir from which new stars are born and into which old stars expel material when they die.. The trifecta of her experience at this time was that the hardware development and testing for the ISOIS EPI-Hi instrument on Parker Solar Probe was also underway. It was through Parker Solar Probe that she met Dave McComas and gained her first experience working with a mission spacecraft build and launch. Voyager cosmic-ray data formed the subject of her dissertation, but to celebrate her graduation, she attended the Parker Solar Probe launch, bringing her doctoral research work full circle. From there, she was presented with the prospect of building the Princeton Space Physics lab and working on the SWAPI instrument for the IMAP mission at Princeton.  

“It was just amazing timing I guess,” she quips while smiling. “Princeton has been a great place to be.”    

Jamie’s passion for her work and new learning opportunities cannot be missed, as she speaks of the great possibilities coming as the IMAP mission launches and the science data begins to come in.  

“Especially in this role, it doesn't stop [at testing and resolving instrument detection obstacles]. It continues on until [IMAP] is in space. At that point, when the instrument is taking data, the focus will shift to writing cool science papers about what [SWAPI] is returning, and hopefully uncovering answers to fundamental questions about the mysteries of the universeThe totality of all space and time; all that is, has been, and will be.. Sometimes, you even come up with new questions that were never anticipated…If you've done it right there's a nice combination of satisfying answers to anticipated questions as well as discovery science.”  

Growing up in Utah, it is of no surprise that Jamie also enjoys all things outdoors, including summiting 14K mountains. At Princeton, she has discovered rowing, which she happily adds to the list of activities she enjoys doing. Music, however, also remains top of what Jamie continues to pursue, but much more than just an interest. Perhaps few people know that Jamie also earned a second bachelor's degree in music. She continues to play multiple diverse instruments, and has also composed over 100 works, half of which have been performed live – an impressive achievement.  “I love trying and exploring new things, testing out new ideas, learning, and convincing my friends to join in with me!”