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Brook Lakew Planetary Systems Laboratory NASA/GSFC, Code 693.0 Greenbelt, MD 20771 Phone: (301) 286-8442 Email: Brook Lakew

Current Position

Astrophysicist
Associate Chief, Planetary System Laboratory
Solar System Exploration Division

Education

Ph.D., Physical Chemistry (with focus on physics of surfaces), University of Paris, 1982.

Served as Principal Investigator for the following projects

"Cryogen free cooled IR focal plane detector for infrared instruments on the Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter (JIMO)" project (selected for IRAD funding in FY04 and FY05)

"High Temperature Superconducting detector characterization with low Tc SQUID" project (selected for NASA funding in 2004 and 2005).

"Development of HTS and MgB2 detectors on monolithic sapphire membranes for future planetary exploration missions" project (NASA funded 2003, 04).

Magnesium Diboride Detector Array (MDA) for Far-IR Exploration of the Outer Planets and Icy Moons. (Selected for funding under the NASA Planetary Instrument Definition and Development program in 2007, 2008, 2009).

Professional Experience

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE:Cassini Mission (1991-97): Development and characterization of flight Far Infrared (IR) detectors for the Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) instrument on board the Cassini spacecraft. Cassini arrived at Saturn on July 1, 2004.
COBE Mission (1985-1989): Study the effects of ionizing radiation on the InSb, Ge: Ga focal plane IR sensors on board the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) (launched 1989).
JIMO (2004-05): Cryocooled focal plane sensor for possible IR instrument on the Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter (JIMO).

APPOINTMENTS:Astrophysicist: NASA, Deputy Chief of the Planetary Systems Laboratory, Senior Scientist: Raytheon Corp, and Section Head (on location at NASA GSFC): Hughes Aircraft Corp., Scientist, STX Corp. (on location at NASA GSFC), Lunar Exploration Science Working Group (LESWG).



Selected Publications




2006  "Effects of ionizing radiation on noise in MgB2 thin films- a candidate material for detectors for post-Cassini planetary missions", B. Lakew, S. Aslam, H. Jones, b. Moeckly, J. Brasunas, D. Franz, Physica C, 440, 1-5.

2004  "Transition-edge superconducting (TES) bolometer on monolithic sapphire membrane - construction and performance", B. Lakew, J. C. Brasunas, S. Aslam, D.E. Pugel, Sensors & Actuators A.

2004  "Long-term stability of the Cassini Fourier transform spectrometer en route to Saturn", J. C. Brasunas and B. Lakew, Research and Development in Optics, Vol 4.

2003  "In-flight Far-Infrared Performance of the CIRS Instrument on Cassini", Nixon, Conor A; Brasunas, John C; Lakew, Brook; Fettig, Rainer; Jennings, Donald E; Carlson, Ronald; Kunde, Virgil G.,.

2003  "Recent advances in high and mid temperature superconducting thin films for infrared sensor applications", Proc. International Workshop on Thermal Detectors (TDW03), B. Lakew, J.C. Brasunas, pp 4-1, Washington DC, USA, (B. Lakew et al. Editors).

2001  "A comment on the reported detectivity of a new uncooled thermal infrared detector", J.C. Brasunas, B. lakew, R. Fettig, Sensors and Actuators A, 3159.

2000  "High Tc superconducting bolometer on chemically etched 7 μm thick sapphire" B. Lakew, J.C. Brasunas, A. Pique, R. Fettig, B. Mott, S. Babu, and G.M. Cushman, Physica C, C 329, 69-74.

1994  "High Tc Superconductor Bolometer with Record Performance," J. C. Brasunas, B. Lakew, Appl. Phy. Lett., 64 (6).

1992  "High Temperature Superconducting Magnetic Susceptibility Bolometer,", J. Brasunas. B. lakew, C. lee, J. App. Phys., 3639.

1991  "High Tc Bolometer development for Planetary Missions," J. Brasunas, B. Lakew, SPIE, Vol. 1477,. P. 166.

1990  "Upcoming Planetary Mission and the Applicability of High Tc Superconductor Bolometers,", J. Brasunas, V. Kunde, H. Moseley, B. Lakew, SPIE, Vol. 1292, p. 155.

1990  "Progress in the Development of High Tc Superconducting IR Bolometers," B. Lakew and J. Brasunas, Paper Presented at the 2nd World Congress on Superconductivity, Houston, TX, Sept. 10-13.