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Chu, Xinzhao

Professor

Positions

Research Areas research areas

Research

research overview

  • Our research goal is to explore the unknown in the atmosphere, space and beyond. We work to discover and understand the fundamental processes in the Earth's Space-Atmosphere System and how these universal processes make the atmospheres of Earth-like planets habitable and sustainable for life. These new understandings and discoveries will help the search of exoplanets and the studies and predictions of space weather. Our path starts with pushing the detection limit by developing the next-generation lidars (laser remote sensing) and making technology innovations. We then deploy these state-of-the-art lidars to probe the Earth's atmosphere and space worldwide. An unprecedented observational campaign with two sophisticated lidars developed by ourselves has been running for over a decade at McMurdo, Antarctica. These lidar observations have been breaking new grounds and advancing atmosphere-space sciences through numerous eye-opening discoveries.

keywords

  • lidar remote sensing, space-atmosphere interactions, thermosphere-ionosphere metal layers, atmospheric science, space physics, atomic and laser spectroscopy, quantum physics, laser physics, laser technology, photonics, quantum electronics, environmental sciences, whole atmosphere lidar

Publications

selected publications

Teaching

courses taught

  • ASEN 3113 - Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2022
    Focuses on the applications of the first and second laws of thermodynamics to control volumes and teaches the fundamental concepts of different modes of energy and heat transfer. Learn to use these concepts in gas dynamics, high-speed vehicle spacecraft design, environmental systems, and energy analysis.
  • ASEN 3300 - Aerospace Electronics and Communications
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2019 / Spring 2021 / Fall 2023
    Provides the fundamentals of electronics and communications widely used in aerospace engineering. Includes analog instrumentation electronics, data acquisition, digital electronics and radio communication.
  • ASEN 6265 - Fundamentals of Spectroscopy for Optical Remote Sensing
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2020 / Fall 2021 / Spring 2024
    Provides a comprehensive overview of the fundamentals of quantum physics, atomic spectroscopy, molecular spectroscopy and laser spectroscopy. Exposes students to the spectroscopy applications in modern optical and laser remote sensing. Assists students to develop the fundamental knowledge and skills for independent learning.
  • ASEN 6365 - Lidar Remote Sensing
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2018 / Fall 2019 / Spring 2020 / Fall 2020 / Spring 2023 / Fall 2024
    Provides a comprehensive, yet easily understandable, up-to-date understanding of lidar principles, technologies and applications. Contains approaches for quantitative lidar simulation, lidar sensitivity and error analysis, lidar data retrieval, lidar system design and performance analysis. Gives students opportunities to see and operate real state-of-the-art lidar systems and make connections to lidar experts in the nation and world.
  • ASEN 6949 - Master's Candidate for Degree
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2024
    Registration intended for students preparing for a thesis defense, final examination, culminating activity, or completion of degree.
  • ASEN 6950 - Master's Thesis
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2023 / Fall 2024

Background

International Activities

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