Engineering Physics Summer Internship-Quantifying the effects of surface, and heterogeneous canopy

The Air Force Institute of Technology is looking for 2025 candidates to participate in a paid summer internship for 10-12 weeks at Wright Patterson Air Force Base (Dayton, Ohio). This Internship is in the Engineering Physics Department, with the Center for Directed Energy. All applicants must be U.S Citizens and be able to pass a background check. 

Project Title: Quantification of ground surface, sub-surface, and heterogeneous canopy effects on slant path high energy laser (HEL) propagation using eddy covariance system (ECVS) and energy balance Bowen ration (EBBR) methods

Project Description: Quantifying the effects of ground surface, subsurface, and heterogeneous canopy on slant-path high-energy laser (HEL) propagation is crucial for optimizing directed energy systems. Using eddy covariance systems (ECVS) and energy balance Bowen ratio (EBBR) methods, researchers can measure critical fluxes of heat, moisture, and momentum that influence atmospheric turbulence along the laser path. ECVS provides high-frequency data on surface-atmosphere interactions, while EBBR quantifies sensible and latent heat fluxes, enabling detailed analysis of energy partitioning. These insights help characterize the refractive index structure function (Cn2​) and its spatial variability. By accounting for complex surface and canopy effects, these methods enhance the accuracy of HEL propagation models in diverse environments.

Majors: STEM