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Planetary geochemist; Nuclear spectroscopist
240-592-0397
  • Ph.D., Astrophysics
    2016, University of Durham
  • M.Sci., Physics
    2011, University of Cambridge
  • B.A., Physics
    2011, University of Cambridge

I am a planetary scientist specializing in the application of statistical data processing and image reconstruction techniques to remotely sensed data. Specifically, I apply these techniques to neutron and gamma ray spectroscopic data to improve their utility in inferring surface and near-subsurface composition of bodies without thick atmospheres.  Recently, I have used Lunar Prospector Gamma Ray Spectrometer data to investigate lunar silicic volcanism and Mars Odyssey Neutron Spectrometer data to examine the global distribution of water on Mars. Currently, I am using Lunar Prospector Neutron Spectrometer data to look at the global evolution of lunar composition and adapting statistical techniques for use with MESSENGER data.

Scholarly Publications

Calibration of NASA’s Neutron Spectrometer System (NSS) for landed measurements of hydrogen content of the lunar subsurface

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 2023
P.N. Peplowski, R.C. Elphic, E.L. Fritzler, J.T. Wilson, (2023), Calibration of NASA’s Neutron Spectrometer System (NSS) for landed measurements of hydrogen content of the lunar subsurface, Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

Global Hydrogen Abundances on the Lunar Surface

Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, 2022
David J. Lawrence, Patrick N. Peplowski, Jack T. Wilson, Richard C. Elphic

Space-based Measurements of Neutron Lifetime: A Novel Approach to a Long-standing Problem

2022

Measurement of the free neutron lifetime using the neutron spectrometer on NASA's Lunar Prospector mission

Physical Review C, 2021
Jack T. Wilson, David J. Lawrence, Patrick N. Peplowski, Vincent R. Eke, Jacob A. Kegerreis, (2021), Measurement of the free neutron lifetime using the neutron spectrometer on NASA's Lunar Prospector mission, Physical Review C

Chemically distinct regions of Venus’s atmosphere revealed by measured N2 concentrations

Nature Astronomy, 2020
Patrick N. Peplowski, David J. Lawrence, Jack T. Wilson

Space-based measurement of the neutron lifetime using data from the neutron spectrometer on NASA's MESSENGER mission

Physical Review Research, 2020
Jack T. Wilson, David J. Lawrence, Patrick N. Peplowski, Vincent R. Eke, Jacob A. Kegerreis, (2020), Space-based measurement of the neutron lifetime using data from the neutron spectrometer on NASA's MESSENGER mission, Physical Review Research , 2, 2, https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevresearch.2.023316

Grid Mapping the Northern Plains of Mars: A New Overview of Recent Water‐ and Ice‐Related Landforms in Acidalia Planitia

Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, 2019
Csilla Orgel, Ernst Hauber, Stephan van Gasselt, Dennis Reiss, Andreas Johnsson, Jason D. Ramsdale, Isaac Smith, Zuzanna M. Swirad, Antoine Séjourné, Jack T. Wilson, Matthew R. Balme, Susan J. Conway, Francois Costard, Vince R. Eke, Colman Gallagher, Ákos Kereszturi, Anna Łosiak, Richard J. Massey, Thomas Platz, James A. Skinner, Luis F. A. Teodoro, (2019), Grid Mapping the Northern Plains of Mars: A New Overview of Recent Water‐ and Ice‐Related Landforms in Acidalia Planitia, Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets

MESSENGER Gamma Ray Spectrometer and Epithermal Neutron Hydrogen Data Reveal Compositional Differences Between Mercury's Hot and Cold Poles

Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, 2019
Jack T. Wilson, David J. Lawrence, Patrick N. Peplowski, William C. Feldman, (2019), MESSENGER Gamma Ray Spectrometer and Epithermal Neutron Hydrogen Data Reveal Compositional Differences Between Mercury's Hot and Cold Poles, Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets

Equatorial locations of water on Mars: Improved resolution maps based on Mars Odyssey Neutron Spectrometer data

Icarus , 2018
Jack T. Wilson and Vincent R. Eke and Richard J. Massey and Richard C. Elphic and William C. Feldman and Sylvestre Maurice and Luís F.A. Teodoro, (2018), Equatorial locations of water on Mars: Improved resolution maps based on Mars Odyssey Neutron Spectrometer data , Icarus , 299, 148 - 160, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0019103516306029

Characterizing near-surface elemental layering on Mars using gamma-ray spectroscopy: A proof-of-principle experiment

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms, 2018
Patrick N. Peplowski and Jack T. Wilson and Andrew W. Beck and Morgan Burks and John O. Goldsten and David J. Lawrence, (2018), Characterizing near-surface elemental layering on Mars using gamma-ray spectroscopy: A proof-of-principle experiment, Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms, 415, 89 - 99, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168583X17309795

Evidence for explosive silicic volcanism on the Moon from the extended distribution of thorium near the Compton-Belkovich Volcanic Complex

Journal of Geophysical Research (Planets), 2015
Wilson, J.~T. and Eke, V.~R. and Massey, R.~J. and Elphic, R.~C. and Jolliff, B.~L. and Lawrence, D.~J. and Llewellin, E.~W. and McElwaine, J.~N. and Teodoro, L.~F.~A., (2015), Evidence for explosive silicic volcanism on the Moon from the extended distribution of thorium near the Compton-Belkovich Volcanic Complex, Journal of Geophysical Research (Planets), 120, 92-108

Image Reconstruction Techniques in Neutron and Gamma Ray Spectroscopy: Improving Lunar Prospector Data

Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets,
Wilson J. T. and Lawrence D. J. and Peplowski P. N. and Cahill J. T. S. and Eke V. R. and Massey R. J. and Teodoro L F. A., Image Reconstruction Techniques in Neutron and Gamma Ray Spectroscopy: Improving Lunar Prospector Data, Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, 0, 0, https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1029/2018JE005589

Compositional variability on the surface of 1 Ceres revealed through GRaND measurements of high-energy gamma rays

Meteoritics & Planetary Science,
Lawrence David J. and Peplowski Patrick N. and Beck Andrew W. and Feldman William C. and Prettyman Thomas H. and Russell Chris T. and Toplis Michael J. and Wilson Jack T. and Ammannito Eleonora and Castillo-Rogez Julie C. and DeSanctis M. C. and Mest Scott C. and Neesemann Adrian, Compositional variability on the surface of 1 Ceres revealed through GRaND measurements of high-energy gamma rays, Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 0, 0, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/maps.13124