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Geoffrey James

Photo of Geoffrey James

Address:

4800 Oak Grove Drive
M/S 183-335

Pasadena, CA 91109

Phone:

818.354.2899

Fax:

818.393.6546

Member of:

Science Division

Assistant Division Manager

Biography

Geoff James is Assistant Division Manager of the Science Division. His main focus is on improving the environment for researchers at JPL, especially foreign nationals. His research interests have included electron-impact-induced VUV emission cross sections of atomic and molecular species and the characterization of flight CCD detectors for various JPL missions such as WFPC-2 and Cassini ISS.

Education

  • B.Sc., Physics, University of Southampton, First Class Honors (1978)
  • Ph.D., Atomic Physics, University of Southampton, UK (1984)

Professional Experience

  • Jet Propulsion Laboratory (1986-Present)
    • Assistant Manager, Science Division (2007-Present)
    • Deputy Manger, Earth Science Section 324 (2002-2007)
    • Manager, Office of Science Administration (2000-2002)
    • Research Scientist (1988-2000)
    • NRC Postdoctoral Fellow (1986-1988)
  • Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC, Canada (1984-1985)
  • Research Fellow, University of Southampton, UK (1982-1984)
  • Process Development Engineer, Mullard Ltd., UK (1978-1979)
  • Research Assistant, Kodak Research Laboratory (1974-1975)

Research Interests

  • Electron-impact-induced VUV emission cross sections of atomic and molecular species.
  • Measurements of benchmark cross sections and polarization fractions of Lyman series radiation from atomic hydrogen excited by electron impact.
  • High resolution measurements of oscillator strengths and predissociation yields of diatomic molecules.
  • Laboratory investigation of electron impact excitation processes leading to the production of terrestrial and planetary UV aurorae.

Selected Awards

  • NASA Exceptional Service Medal (2009)
  • Six NASA Group Achievement Awards for contributions to the Hubble Space Telecope WF/PC II, Cassini ISS, Deep Space 1, and Mars Athena precursor flight projects.
  • Elected Fellow of the Institute of Physics, UK (2002)

Selected Publications

  1. G. K. James, J. M. Ajello, B. Franklin, D. Siskind, T. Slanger and D. E. Shemansky, "An investigation of the Second Negative System of O 2+ by electron impact," J. Geophys. Res. 93, 9893 (1988)
  2. J. M. Ajello, G. K. James, B.O Franklin and D. E. Shemansky, "Medium resolution studies of EUV emission from N2 by electron impact: vibrational perturbations and cross sections of the c4/ 1[Sigma]u+ and b/ 1[Sigma]u+ states," Phys. Rev. A., 40, 3524, (1989)
  3. G. K. James, J. M. Ajello, B. O. Franklin and D. E. Shemansky, "Medium resolution studies of EUV emission from N2 by electron impact: predissociation and emission cross sections of the b 1[Pie]u state," J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys., 23, 2055 (1990)
  4. J. M. Ajello, G. K. James, B. Franklin, and S. Howell, "Study of electron impact excitation of Argon in the EUV: emission cross sections of resonance lines of Ar I, Ar II," J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys., 23, 4355 (1990)
  5. J. M. Ratliff, G. K. James, S. Trajmar, J. M. Ajello and D. E. Shemansky, "Electron impact excitation and dissociation of N2 via the b 1[Pie]u state," J. Geophys. Res., 96, 17559 (1991)
  6. G. K. James, J. M. Ajello, I. Kanik, B. Franklin and D. E. Shemansky, "The EUV emission spectrum of CO produced by electron impact at 200 eV," J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys., 25, 1481 (1992)
  7. J. M. Ajello, G. K. James, I. Kanik and B. O. Franklin, "The complete UV spectrum of SO2 by electron impact: Part 1, The vacuum ultraviolet spectrum," J. Geophys. Res., 97, 10473 (1992)
  8. J. M. Ajello, G. K. James and I. Kanik, "The complete UV spectrum of SO2 by electron impact: Part 2, The middle ultraviolet spectrum," J. Geophys. Res., 97, 10501 (1992)
  9. I. Kanik, G. K. James and J. M. Ajello , "Medium resolution studies of extreme ultraviolet emission from CO by electron impact," Phys. Rev. A , 51, 2067 (1995)
  10. G. K. James, I. Kanik and J. M. Ajello, "Far-Ultraviolet emission cross sections of Ne II and Ne III Excited by electron impact" Ap. J., 455, 769 (1995)
  11. G. K. James, J. A. Slevin, D. E. Shemansky, J. W. McConkey, D. Dziczek, I. Kanik and J. M. Ajello "Optical excitation function of H (1s-2p) produced by electron impact from threshold to 1.8 keV," Phys. Rev.A 55, 1069 (1997)
  12. G. K. James, J.A. Slevin, D. Dziczek, J.W. McConkey and I. Bray, "Polarization of Lyman-alpha radiation from atomic hydrogen excited by electron impact from threshold to 1800eV," Phys. Rev A, 57, 1787 (1998)
  13. G.K. James, J. M. Ajello and W.R. Pryor, "The MUV-visible spectrum of H2 excited by electron impact," J.Geophys. Res. (Planets) 103, 20113 (1998)
  14. D.Dziczek, J.M. Ajello, G.K. James and D. L. Hansen, "Cascade contribution to the H2 Lyman band system from electron impact," Phys. Rev. A 6106, 4702 (2000)
  15. G.K. James, D. Dziczek, J.A. Slevin, J.W. McConkey, J.M. Ajello and I. Bray, "Polarization of Lyman-beta radiation from atomic hydrogen excited by electron impact from near-threshold to 1000eV," Phys. Rev. A 66, 042710 (2002)