Ah-San Wong, Ph.D.

Education

  • M.Mus. in Composition, California State University, Los Angeles, expected 2008

  • Ph.D. in Physics, California Institute of Technology (Caltech), 2002
    Dissertation: Photochemical Studies of Jupiter and Titan. Advisor: Dr. Yuk L. Yung.

  • Comprehensive Certificate in Film Scoring, University of California Extension, Los Angeles, 2000

  • M.S. in Physics, California Institute of Technology, 1995

  • B.S. in Physics, summa cum laude, California State University, Fresno, 1992


    Research and Teaching

  • Research Fellow, California Institute of Technology 2006 - present
    Photochemistry of Titan's atmosphere.

  • Senior Research Fellow, University of Michigan 2005 - 2006
  • Research Fellow, University of Michigan 2002 – 2004
    Research includes composition and evolution of planetary atmospheres; photochemistry and electrochemistry of Martian hot spots and biomarkers, dust storms and dust devils; hydrocarbons and aerosol formation in the giant planet atmospheres, auroras and clouds; chemistry of Titan's atmosphere. Have also worked in Space Physics Research Laboratory to develop mass spectrometers for Mars missions.

  • Science Team Member, Mars Science Laboratory (MSL)
    Sample Analysis at Mars Suite Investigation (SAM-Suite)

  • Graduate Research Assistant, Geological and Planetary Sciences, Caltech 1999 – 2001
    Performed detailed modeling studies of the atmospheric photochemistry of outer planets. Specifically, investigated the isotopic fractionation and evolution of carbon monoxide on Titan; investigated the formation of benzene, complex hydrocarbons and polar haze particles on Jupiter; analyzed Galileo Ultraviolet Spectrometer data of the Jovian aurora.

  • Graduate Research Assistant, Space Radiation Laboratory, Caltech 1995 – 1999
    Developed and implemented CdZnTe semiconductor detectors for balloon- and satellite-borne high-energy astrophysics missions. Designed and optimized CdZnTe pixel detectors by computer modeling and extensive laboratory work. Investigated radiation damage in semiconductor detectors.

  • Graduate Research Assistant, Condensed Matter Physics, Caltech 1992 – 1995
    Characterized low-temperature superconducting devices. Acquired extensive experience with vacuum systems, electronics, data acquisition, machine shop, clean room facilities.

  • Teaching Assistant, Senior Physics Laboratory, Physics Department, Caltech 1993 – 2001
    Guided and evaluated students in an advanced experimental physics course. Helped design and build experiments to illustrate fundamental physical phenomena in electronics, nuclear physics, spectroscopy, and physics at low temperatures.

  • Teaching Assistant, Physics Department, Caltech 1992 – 1993
    Graded homework and exams for undergraduate physics courses.

  • Experimental Skills
    Mass spectrometry, vacuum systems, computer data acquisition, electronics, VLSI layout, microchip post-processing, machine shop techniques


    Professional Memberships

  • American Geophysical Union
  • American Astronomical Society—Division for Planetary Sciences


    Honors and Awards

  • Dean's Medalist, Natural Science School, CSU Fresno 1992
  • The National Dean's List 1990 – 1992
  • Summa cum laude, CSU Fresno 1992
  • Outstanding Student Award, Physics Department, CSU Fresno 1992
  • Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society 1991
  • Golden Key National Honor Society 1991 – 1992
  • Elsa B Einstein Scholarship, CSU Fresno 1991
  • Outstanding Student Award, Hong Kong 1989


    Publication

      Book Chapter

    1. Coupled clouds and chemistry of the giant planets—A case for multiprobes, Atreya, S. K., and A. S. Wong, invited chapter in Comparative Study of the Giant Planets (Th. Encrenaz, T. Owen, R. Kallenbach, editors), in press, 2004. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrectht.

      Research Articles

    2. Methane and Related Trace Species on Mars: Origin, Loss, Implications for Life, and Habitability, S. K. Atreya, P. R. Mahaffy, and A. S. Wong, Planet Space Sci., 2006, in press.

    3. Oxidant enhancement in Martian dust devils and storms: Implications for Life, and Habitability, Atreya, S. K., A. S. Wong, N. O. Renno, W. M. Farrell, G. T. Delory, D. D. Sentman, S. A. Cummer, J. R. Marshall, S. C. R. Rafkin, and D. C. Catling, ASTROBIOLOGY 6, 439-450, 2006.

    4. Oxidant enhancement in Martian dust devils and storms: Storm electric fields and electron dissociative attachment, Delory, G. T., W. M. Farrell, N. O. Renno, S. K. Atreya, A. S. Wong, D. D. Sentman, S. A. Cummer, J. R. Marshall, S. C. R. Rafkin, and D. C. Catling, ASTROBIOLOGY, in press, 2006.

    5. Hydrogen peroxide on Mars: spatial distribution and seasonal variations, Encrenaz, Th., B. Bézard, T. Greathouse, M. Richter, J. Lacy, S. Atreya, A. S. Wong, S. Lebonnois, F. Lefevre, and F. Forget, Icarus 170, 424—429, 2004.

    6. Enhanced chemistry and transport in the polar mesosphere of Jupiter: evidence from helium airglow, Parkinson, C., Y. L. Yung, A. S. Wong, and A. I. F. Steward, Journal of Geophysical Research – Planets, in press, 2004.

    7. Detectability of minor constituents in the martian atmosphere from infrared and submillimeter spectroscopy, Encrenaz, Th., E. Lellouch, S. K. Atreya, and A. S. Wong, Planetary and Space Science 52, 1023—1037, 2004.

    8. Jupiter's ammonia clouds—localized or ubiquitous? Atreya, S. K., A. S. Wong, K. H. Baines, M. H. Wong, and T. C. Owen, Planetary and Space Science, in press, 2004.

    9. Correction to “chemical markers of possible hot spots on Mars”, Wong, A. S., S. K. Atreya, and Th. Encrenaz, Journal of Geophysical Research – Planets 109 (E1), Art. No. E01007, 2004.

    10. Photochemistry above possible martian hot spots, Wong, A. S., S. K. Atreya, Th. Encrenaz, V. Formisano, and N. Ignatiev, Advances in Space Research 33, 2236—2239, 2004.

    11. Electrical discharges and broadband radio emission by martian dust devils and dust storms, Renno, N. O., A. S. Wong, S. K. Atreya, I. de Pater, and M. Roos-Serote, Geophysical Research Letters 30 (22): 2140, doi:10.1029/2003GL017879, 2003.

    12. Benzene and haze formation in the polar atmosphere of Jupiter, Wong, A. S., Y. L. Yung, and A. J. Friedson, Geophysical Research Letters 30 (8): 1447, doi:10.1029/2002GL016661, 2003.

    13. Chemical markers of possible hot spots on Mars, Wong, A. S., S. K. Atreya, and Th. Encrenaz, Journal of Geophysical Research – Planets 108 (E4): 5026, doi:10.1029/2002JE002003, 2003.

    14. A stringent upper limit of the H2O2 abundance in the Martian atmosphere, Encrenaz, Th., T. Greathouse, B. Bézard, S. K. Atreya, A. S. Wong, M. Richter, and J. Lacy, Journal of Astronomy and Astrophysics 396 (3), 1037-1044, 2002.

    15. Models for polar haze formation in Jupiter's stratosphere, Friedson, A. J., A. S. Wong, and Y. L. Yung, Icarus 158, 389, 2002.

    16. Evolution of CO on Titan, Wong, A. S., C. G. Morgan, Y. L. Yung, and T. Owen, Icarus 155, 382, 2002.

    17. Jupiter: Aerosol chemistry in the polar atmosphere, Wong, A. S., A. Y. T. Lee, Y. L. Yung, and J. M. Ajello, Astrophysical Journal 534, L215, 2000.

    18. Charge loss between contacts of CdZnTe pixel detectors, Bolotnikov, A. E., W. R. Cook, F. A. Harrison, A. S. Wong, S. M. Schindler, and A. C. Eichelberger, Nuclear Instruments & Methods In Physics Research Section A 432, 326, 1999.

      Conference Proceedings and Other Publications

    19. Neptune's cloud structure, Wong, A. S., and S. K. Atreya, International Planetary Probe Workshop, 23-26 August, 2004, Moffett Field, California.

    20. Hydrogen peroxide detection on Mars, Encrenaz, Th., B. Bézard, T. Greathouse, J. Lacy, M. Richter, S. K. Atreya, and A. S. Wong, IAU Circular 8254, December 9, 2003.

    21. Hubble Space Telescope search for localized outgassing on Mars, Ouvarova, T., J. Caldwell, S. Atreya, A. S. Wong, N. Renno, and P. James, The Third International Conference on Mars Polar Science and Exploration, 13-17 October 2003, Alberta, Canada.

    22. Chemistry related to possible outgassing sources on Mars, Wong, A. S., S. K. Atreya, and N. O. Renno, Sixth International Conference on Mars, 20-25 July 2003, Pasadena, California, abstract no.3125.

    23. Electrical discharges in the martian dust devils and dust storms, Renno, N. O., A. S. Wong, and S. K. Atreya, Sixth International Conference on Mars, 20-25 July 2003, Pasadena, California, abstract no.3191.

    24. A stringent upper limit of H2O2 abundance in the Martian atmosphere, Encrenaz, Th., B. Bézard, T. Greathouse, J. Lacy, S. K. Atreya, A. S. Wong, and M. Richter, Mars Atmosphere Modelling and Observations Workshop, 13–15 January, 2002, Granada, Spain.

    25. Effects of proton-induced radiation damage on Cadmium Zinc Telluride pixel detectors, Wong, A. S., F. A. Harrison, and L. S. Varnell, Proceedings of SPIE Volume 2806, Gamma-Ray and Cosmic-Ray Detectors, Techniques, and Missions, p. 442–448, 1996.

    26. Radiation effects in CdZnTe gamma-ray detectors produced by 199-MeV protons, Varnell, L. S., W. A. Mahoney, E. L. Hull, J. F. Bulter, and A. S. Wong, Proceedings of SPIE Volume 2806, Gamma-Ray and Cosmic-Ray Detectors, Techniques, and Missions, p. 424–431, 1996.

      Conference Abstracts, Selected

    27. Water-Ammonia Ionic Ocean on Uranus and Neptune--A Clue from Hydrogen Sulfide Clouds, Atreya, S.K, P.A. Egeler, A.S. Wong, American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, December 2005, San Francisco, California.

    28. Clouds of Neptune and Uranus: Implications for Entry Probes, Wong, A. S., and S. K. Atreya, American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, December 13—17, 2004, San Francisco, California.

    29. Methane on Mars—origin, loss, implications for extinct or extant life, S. K. Atreya, A. S. Wong, American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, December 13—17, 2004, San Francisco, California.

    30. Oxidant enhancement in Martian dust devils and storms, Atreya, S. K., A. S. Wong, N. O. Renno, W. M. Farrell, G. T. Delory, D. D. Sentman, S. A. Cummer, J. R. Marshall, S. C. R. Rafkin, D. Catling, American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, December 13—17, 2004, San Francisco, California.

    31. Oxidant enhancement in the Martian dust devils and storms: I. Storm electric fields and electron dissociative attachment, Delory, G. T., W. M. Farrell, D. D. Sentman, N. O. Renno, S. K. Atreya, A. S. Wong, S. A. Cummer, J. R. Marshall, S. C. R. Rafkin, D. Catling, American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, December 13—17, 2004, San Francisco, California.

    32. Cloud structure of Neptune and Uranus, Wong, A. S., and S. K. Atreya, AAS Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting, November 8—14, 2004, Louisville, Kentucky.

    33. Oxidant enhancement in Martian dust devils and storms: II. Electrochemistry and oxidant production, Atreya, S. K., A. S. Wong, N. O. Renno, W. M. Farrell, G. T. Delory, D. D. Sentman, S. A. Cummer, J. R. Marshall, S. C. R. Rafkin, D. Catling, AAS Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting, November 8—14, 2004, Louisville, Kentucky.

    34. Oxidant enhancement in the Martian dust devils and storms: I. Storm electric fields and electron dissociative attachment, Delory, G. T., W. M. Farrell, D. D. Sentman, N. O. Renno, S. K. Atreya, A. S. Wong, S. A. Cummer, J. R. Marshall, S. C. R. Rafkin, D. Catling, AAS Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting, November 8—14, 2004, Louisville, Kentucky.

    35. High-resolution IR imaging spectroscopy of Mars: CO2 isotopic ratios, H2O, H2O2 & T mapping, and a search for CH4, Encrenaz, T., B. Bézard, T. Owen, S. Lebonnois, F. Lefèvre, T. Greathouse, M. Richter, J. Lacy, S. K. Atreya, A. S. Wong, F. Forget, AAS Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting, November 8—14, 2004, Louisville, Kentucky.

    36. An HST Search for N2 emissions on Mars caused by electrical discharges during dust storms, Caldwell, J., S. C. Hsu, N. O. Renno, S. K. Atreya, and A. S. Wong, AAS Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting, November 8—14, 2004, Louisville, Kentucky.

    37. Mars photochemistry – hydrogen peroxide, and other trace species, Wong, A. S., and S. K. Atreya, Th. Encrenaz, and B. Bézard, European Geosciences Union 1st General Assembly, 25–30 April 2004, Nice, France.

    38. Ammonia clouds on Jupiter and Saturn—here today, gone tomorrow? Atreya, S. K., and A. S. Wong, American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, 8–12 December 2003, San Francisco, California.

    39. Electrical discharges in the martian dust devils and dust storms, Renno, N. O., A. S. Wong, and S. K. Atreya, Eos. Trans. AGU, 84(46), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract P51C-0459, 2003. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, 8–12 December 2003, San Francisco, California.

    40. Are local outgassing sources on Mars detectable from Earth using the HST? Caldwell, J. J., T. Ouvarova, S. K. Atreya, A. S. Wong, N. O. Renno, and P. James, AAS Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting, September 2003, Monterey, California.

    41. Chemical identification of martian hot spots, Wong, A. S., S. K. Atreya, and N. O. Renno, European Geophysical Society-American Geophysical Union-European Union of Geosciences Joint Assembly, April 2003, Nice, France,

    42. Electrical signature of martian dust activity, Wong, A. S., N. O. Renno, and S. K. Atreya, European Geophysical Society-American Geophysical Union-European Union of Geosciences Joint Assembly, April 2003, Nice, France.

    43. Jupiter's ammonia clouds—localized or ubiquitous? Atreya, S. K., and A. S. Wong, European Geophysical Society-American Geophysical Union-European Union of Geosciences Joint Assembly, April 2003, Nice, France,

    44. If Mars had hot spots, Wong, A. S., S. K. Atreya, Th. Encrenaz, V. Formisano, and N. Ignatiev, COSPAR 2nd World Space Congress, October 2002, Houston, Texas.

    45. Jupiter and the extrasolar giant planets: composition and origin of atmospheres, Atreya, S. K., A. S. Wong,, P. R. Mahaffy, H. B. Niemann, M. H. Wong, and T. C. Owen, COSPAR 2nd World Space Congress, October 2002, Houston, Texas.

    46. Chemical markers of possible hot spots on Mars, Wong, A. S., S. K. Atreya, Th. Encrenaz, V. Formisano, and N. Ignatiev, AAS Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting, October 2002, Birmingham, Alabama.

    47. Benzene on Jupiter, Wong, A. S., Y. L. Yung, and J. M. Ajello, American Geological Union Fall Meeting, 10–14 December 2001, San Francisco, California.

    48. CO isotopic fractionation and the evolution of early Titan, Wong, A. S., Y. L. Yung, C. G. Morgan, and T. Owen, AAS Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting, 27 November – December 2001, New Orleans, Louisiana.

    49. Isotopic fractionation and dilution of CO on Titan, Wong, A. S., C. G. Morgan, Y. L. Yung, and T. Owen, AAS Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting, 23–27 October 2000, Pasadena, California.

    50. Galileo observations of Jovian aurora and modeling of polar chemistry, Ajello, J. M., A. S. Wong, A. Y. T. Lee, and Y. L. Yung, AAS Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting, 23–27 October 2000, Pasadena, California.

    51. Use of a pulsed laser to study properties of a CdZnTe pixel detector, Boggs, S. E., A. E. Bolotnikov, J. A. Burnham, W. R. Cook III, F. A. Harrison, S. M. Schindler, and A. S. Wong, Proc. of SPIE's International Symposium, 19-27 July 1999.

    52. Test of 8×8 CdZnTe pixel detector, Boggs, S. E., A. E. Bolotnikov, W. R. Cook III, F. A. Harrison, S. M. Schindler, and A. S. Wong, Proc. of SPIE's International Symposium, 19-27 July 1999.

      Invited Talks

    53. Jupiter's ammonia clouds—localized or ubiquitous? Wong, A. S., Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, Caltech, April 30, 2006.

    54. Methane on Mars: sources, sinks, implications for life, Atreya, S. K., Th. Encrenaz, V. Formisano, A. S. Wong, Keynote Speech, International Mars Conference, Ischia, Italy, September 2004.

    55. Mars chemistry and future measurements, Wong, A. S., Department of Physics and Astronomy, York University, Canada, November 28, 2003.

    56. Benzene and haze formation in the polar atmosphere of Jupiter, Wong, A. S., Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, Caltech, July 29, 2003.

    57. Planetary atmospheres: a photochemical study, Wong, A. S., Department of Physics, California State University, Fresno, April, 2002.

    58. Photochemical studies of Jupiter and Titan, Wong, A. S., Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Louisville, November, 2001