Harjit Ahluwalia
University of New Mexico
For distinguished accomplishments and dedication to the development of young investigators, as well as significant contributions to the Society’s mission and service to the University of New Mexico chapter of Sigma Xi.
Biography
Education:
B.Sc. (Hons); M.Sc. (Hons); Ph.D.
Research Interests:
Galactic Cosmic Radiation, Solar Physics, Space Weather.
Employment History
1954-62: Research Fellow, Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad, India.
1962-63: Technical Assistance Expert, Nuclear Electronics, UNESCO, Paris, France.
1963-64: Research Associate, Southwest Center for Advanced Studies, Richardson, TX,
USA.
1965-68: Scientific Director, Laboratorio de Physica Cosmica, Universidad Mayor de San
Andres, La Paz, Bolivia, South America, supported by funds from the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna, Austria (1965-1967) and Pan American
Union (PAU), Washington, DC (1967-1968).
1968-2014: Professor, Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of New Mexico
(UNM), Albuquerque, NM.
1987-88: Visiting Senior Scientist, NASA Headquarters, sponsored by the Jet Propulsion
Laboratory (JPL) of the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA. I
served in the Astrophysics and Solar & Heliosphere Physics Divisions (one year
in each) at the Office of Space Science and Applications, NASA, Washington, DC.
2003 (Summer): Visiting Professor, sponsored by the Japan Ministry of Education, Solar-
Terrestrial Environmental Laboratory, Nagoya University, Honohara 3-13,
Toyokawa, Aichi, Japan.
2014 July: Transitioned to Emeritus Professor status.
2018-todate: Summer Faculty Research Fellow at Space Vehicles Directorate, Kirtland Air
Force Base, NM 87111.
Positions Held as a Volunteer:
1966-69: National Representative of Bolivia: 1. International Union of Pure and Applied
Physics (IUPAP). 2. Committee on Space Research (COSPAR), the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU). 3. Solar Particle and Radiation Monitoring Organization.
1966-69: Member, The Cosmic Ray Commission of IUPAP.
1967 (Summer): Invited Guest Lecturer, Summer School of Environmental & Planetary Sciences, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, co-sponsored by NASA.
1975: Invited Rapporteur, 14th International Cosmic Ray Conference, Munich, Germany.
1976-86: General Secretary, High Energy Cosmic Ray Group, the International Program: Solar Travelling Interplanetary Phenomena (STIP), organized by the Scientific Committee on Solar-Terrestrial Physics (SCOSTEP) of ICSU.
1984-89: Representative of IUPAP, Steering Committee of Middle Atmosphere Program
(MAP) of SCOSTEP.
1989-90: Chairman, Local Organizing Committee (LOC): 176th American Astronomical
Society (AAS) Meeting, Albuquerque, NM, 10-14 June 1990.
1990-97: Member, The SOLar connection with Transient Interplanetary Processes (SOLTIP), SCOSTEP Working Group 2, Solar-Terrestrial Energy Program (STEP) of ICSU.
1995-98: Regional Director, Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society, elected by Chapter delegates of the Southwest (SW) Region, USA.
1998-01: Committee on Nominations (CON), Sigma Xi, elected by the SW Region Chapter delegates; Chair of CON, elected by the Board of Directors: 2000-01.
1998-02: Member, Intern. Solar Cycle Studies (ISCS), SCOSTEP / ICSU Working Group 3.
2001-02: Chairman, LOC, 200th AAS Meeting, Albuquerque, NM, 2-6 June 2002.
2002-04: Member, Committee on Int'l Freedom of Scientists, appointed by APS President.
2011-todate: Editorial Board, Indian Journal of Radio & Space Physics (IJRSP).
2012-2015: Member, Committee on Qualifications & Membership of the Board of Directors
of Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society.
Memberships in Professional Societies, Institutes, Commissions & Unions:
Fellow: American Physical Society (APS), 1994.
Life Senior Member: Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), 1989.
Board Member: Albuquerque IEEE Section, Region 6, 1983-todate.
IEEE Albuquerque Section: Treasurer (1995-98), Secretary (1999-01), Vice-Chair (2002-
03), Chair (2004-05).
President: UNM Sigma Xi Chapter (1988, 1991, 1993-96, 1998-03)
International Astronomical Union (IAU) 1979-todate: Division D (High Energy
Phenomena and Fundamental Physics); Division E (Sun and Heliosphere).
Dissertation Advisor at UNM.
• 1969, "Cosmic Ray Anisotropy in Interplanetary Space. "Jacqueline H. Ericksen, Ph.D.
• 1969, "A Study of the Sidereal Diurnal Variation of Cosmic Rays Underground." Albert
Brunsting, M.S., jointly with Professor D.B. Swinson.
• 1973, "Pitch Angle Diffusion of Relativistic Electrons in the Plasmasphere." George A.
Kuck, Ph.D.
• 1977, "Analysis of the Microscopic Structure of the Sheath between a Uniform Plasma
and Confining Electromagnetic Fields in High-ß Devices." Leo J. Rahal, Ph.D.
• 1980, "Barometric Coefficient for the Dallas Neutron Monitor." J. Douglas Beason,
M.S.
• 1986, "The Diurnal Variation in Cosmic Ray Intensity." James F. Riker, Ph.D.
• 1989, "An Experimental Study of the Microwave Transmission Through a Decaying
Plasma." Kyle J. Hendricks, Ph.D.
• 1990, "The Diurnal Anisotropy of Cosmic Rays During the Descending Phase of the
Solar Activity Cycle 21." Ismail S. Sabbah, Ph.D.
• 1994, "The Solar Semidiurnal and Tridiurnal Anisotropies of Cosmic Ray Modulation."
Michael M. Fikani, Ph.D.
• 2015, “Galactic Cosmic Ray Transport in the Heliosphere: 1963-2013.”
Roger C. Ygbuhay, Ph.D.
My students are gainfully employed at the Universities around the globe, in Industry and U.S. Air Force.
Endowed Presidential Scholarship at UNM
On 1 January 2006, my wife and I endowed a Presidential Scholarship to memorialize my parents: Late Sewa Singh & Jaswant Kaur. It is for a minority female from a High School in Albuquerque / Rio Rancho area with a GPA > 3.75 to study Physics/Astronomy at UNM. The first recipient scholar, Ms. Stefanie Gallegos, was selected in 2006 Fall; the second (Ms. Desiree Sanchez) for 2008-2010; The third (Ms. Teana Page) for 2010-2012; the fourth (Ms. Alexandria M. Doerfler) for 2012-2013; the fifth (Alex James Johnson) 2013-2021, the sixth (Niki Mohammadzadeh) selected in Fall 2022.
SCHOLARLY ACTIVITIES
- Peer reviewed papers in prestigious journals = 100
- Papers presented at domestic and international conferences = 228
- Technical Reports submitted to funding agencies = 45
- Invited talks at domestic/international gatherings = 57
- International conferences attended = 204