Richard Miller

Astrophysicist; Nuclear physicist; Planetary scientist

Richard.S.Miller@jhuapl.edu

240-592-1576

Ph. D., Physics

1995, University of New Hampshire
M.S., Physics

1992, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge
B.S., Physics (Mathematics Minor)

1987, University of California, Irvine

I am an astrophysicist with experience that spans multiple disciplines. My research efforts have taken me from experiments deep underground in mines to the furthest reaches of the cosmos, from cataclysmic deaths of stars to the detection of water on the Moon, and from submarines to the classroom. The common theme of my career has been opening new windows on the Universe to reveal new insights and understand its mysteries. For the past few years my efforts have focused on the development of the Moon as a platform for astrophysics. I received an B.S. degree in physics from the University of California, Irvine, a M.S. degree from Louisiana State University, and a Ph.D. from the University of New Hampshire. My research interests span multiple disciplines including particle astrophysics, high-energy astrophysics, and planetary science. Prior to joining APL I was a tenured full professor of physics at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. I have been a collaborator on the Irving-Michigan-Brookhaven (IMB) neutrino experiment, the COMPTEL instrument aboard the Compton Gamma-ray Observatory, the Milagro TeV cosmic- and gamma-ray telescope, and currently serve as the Principal Investigator for the Lunar Occultation eXplorer (LOX) nuclear astrophysics mission concept. My planetary work includes data analysis with the Lunar Prospector Gamma-Ray Spectrometer (LP-GRS), the development of muon radiography techniques for small planetary bodies, and currently serve as the Instrument Scientist for the gamma-ray and neutron spectrometer suite (DraGNS) being developed for the Dragonfly mission to Saturn’s moon Titan. I am the recipient of several honors including the American Astronomical Society’s Bruno Rossi Prize for High-Energy Astrophysics and the Los Alamos National Laboratory’s Distinguished Achievement Award.

Notable Awards and Leadership

Year(s)	Description
1995 - Present	American Physical Society (APS)
1999 - Present	American Astronomical Society (AAS)
2005 - Present	American Geophysical Union (AGU)
2005 - Present	SPIE
2010 - Present	Union of Concerned Scientists
2016	Outstanding Faculty Research Award, University of Alabama in Huntsville
2015	Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science
2014	Resolution Recognizing Service Contributions, Board of Trustees, University of Alabama System
2010	Dean’s Service Award, College of Science, University of Alabama in Huntsville
1997	Distinguished Achievement Award, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Physics Division
1992-1995	NASA Graduate Research Program Fellowship, NASA HQ & GSFC
1989	Bruno Rossi Prize, American Astronomical Society, High-Energy Astrophysics Division

Scholarly Publications

FIRST LIGHT: MeV ASTROPHYSICS FROM THE MOON

ApJ, 2016

Richard S. Miller, David J. Lawrence, (2016), FIRST LIGHT: MeV ASTROPHYSICS FROM THE MOON, ApJ, 823, L31

Lunar true polar wander inferred from polar hydrogen

Nature, 2016

M. A. Siegler, R. S. Miller, J. T. Keane, M. Laneuville, D. A. Paige, I. Matsuyama, D. J. Lawrence, A. Crotts, M. J. Poston, (2016), Lunar true polar wander inferred from polar hydrogen, Nature, 531, 480-+

High-resolution mapping of lunar polar hydrogen with a low-resource orbital mission

Acta Astronautica, 2015

David J. Lawrence, Richard S. Miller, Martin T. Ozimek, Patrick N. Peplowski, Christopher J. Scott, (2015), High-resolution mapping of lunar polar hydrogen with a low-resource orbital mission, Acta Astronautica, 115, 452-462

Identification of surface hydrogen enhancements within the Moon's Shackleton crater

Icarus, 2014

Richard S. Miller, David J. Lawrence, Dana M. Hurley, (2014), Identification of surface hydrogen enhancements within the Moon's Shackleton crater, Icarus, 233, 229-232

Statistics for orbital neutron spectroscopy of the Moon and other airless planetary bodies

Journal of Geophysical Research-Planets, 2012

R. S. Miller, (2012), Statistics for orbital neutron spectroscopy of the Moon and other airless planetary bodies, Journal of Geophysical Research-Planets, 117

Enhanced hydrogen at the lunar poles: New insights from the detection of epithermal and fast neutron signatures

Journal of Geophysical Research-Planets, 2012

R. S. Miller, G. Nerurkar, D. J. Lawrence, (2012), Enhanced hydrogen at the lunar poles: New insights from the detection of epithermal and fast neutron signatures, Journal of Geophysical Research-Planets, 117

Sensitivity of orbital neutron measurements to the thickness and abundance of surficial lunar water

Journal of Geophysical Research-Planets, 2011

D. J. Lawrence, D. M. Hurley, W. C. Feldman, R. C. Elphic, S. Maurice, R. S. Miller, T. H. Prettyman, (2011), Sensitivity of orbital neutron measurements to the thickness and abundance of surficial lunar water, Journal of Geophysical Research-Planets, 116

The Lunar Occultation Observer (LOCO): A hard X-ray all-sky survey mission concept

Ieee Transactions on Nuclear Science, 2008

Richard S. Miller, (2008), The Lunar Occultation Observer (LOCO): A hard X-ray all-sky survey mission concept, Ieee Transactions on Nuclear Science, 55, 1387-1390

The MEGA project for Medium Energy Gamma-ray Astronomy

Chinese Journal of Astronomy and Astrophysics, 2006

P. F. Bloser, J. M. Ryan, M. L. McConnell, J. R. Macri, U. Bravar, G. Kanbach, R. Andritschke, M. Ajello, A. Zoglauer, S. D. Hunter, B. F. Phlips, E. A. Wulf, D. H. Hartmann, R. S. Miller, W. S. Paciesas, A. D. Zych, R. M. Kippen, T. Vestrand, M. L. Cherry, T. G. Guzik, J. G. Stacy, J. P. Wefel, V. Reglero, G. Di Cocco, J. P. Cravens, (2006), The MEGA project for Medium Energy Gamma-ray Astronomy, Chinese Journal of Astronomy and Astrophysics, 6, 388-392

The CASTER black hole finder probe

New Astronomy Reviews, 2006

M. L. McConnell, P. F. Bloser, G. L. Case, M. L. Cherry, J. Cravens, T. G. Guzik, K. Hurley, R. M. Kippen, J. R. Macri, R. S. Miller, W. Paciesas, J. M. Ryan, B. Schaefer, J. G. Stacy, W. T. Vestrand, J. P. Wefel, (2006), The CASTER black hole finder probe, New Astronomy Reviews, 50, 633-636

Cosmic-ray induced neutrino fluxes at the Moon: A semi-analytic approach

Astroparticle Physics, 2006

R. S. Miller, T. Cohen, (2006), Cosmic-ray induced neutrino fluxes at the Moon: A semi-analytic approach, Astroparticle Physics, 25, 368-374

Evidence for TeV gamma-ray emission from a region of the galactic plane

Physical Review Letters, 2005

R Atkins, W Benbow, D Berley, E Blaufuss, DG Coyne, T DeYoung, BL Dingus, DE Dorfan, RW Ellsworth, L Fleysher, R Fleysher, G Gisler, MM Gonzalez, JA Goodman, TJ Haines, E Hays, CM Hoffman, LA Kelley, CP Lansdell, JT Linnemann, JE McEnery, RS Miller, AI Mincer, MF Morales, P Nemethy, D Noyes, JM Ryan, FW Samuelson, PMS Parkinson, A Shoup, G Sinnis, AJ Smith, GW Sullivan, DA Williams, ME Wilson, XW Xu, GB Yodh, (2005), Evidence for TeV gamma-ray emission from a region of the galactic plane, Physical Review Letters, 95

A scintillator-based hard X-ray imaging telescope - CASTER

Proceedings of the 29th International Cosmic Ray Conference, Vol 5: OG 2.5, 2.6 & 2.7, 2005

M. L. Cherry, P. F. Blose, G. L. Case, J. P. Cravens, T. G. Guzik, K. C. Hurley, J. B. Isbert, R. M. Kippen, J. M. Macri, M. L. McConnell, R. S. Miller, W. S. Paciesas, J. M. Ryan, B. E. Schaefer, J. G. Stacy, W. T. Vestrand, J. P. Wefel, C. E. Welch, Tata Institute Fundamental Res, (2005), A scintillator-based hard X-ray imaging telescope - CASTER, Proceedings of the 29th International Cosmic Ray Conference, Vol 5: OG 2.5, 2.6 & 2.7, 407-410

Limits on very high energy emission from gamma-ray bursts with the Milagro observatory

Astrophysical Journal, 2004

R Atkins, W Benbow, D Berley, E Blaufuss, J Bussons, DG Coyne, T Deayoung, BL Dingus, DE Dorfan, RW Ellsworth, L Fleysher, R Fleysher, G Gisler, MM Gonzalez, JA Goodman, TJ Haines, E Hays, CM Hoffman, LA Kelley, JE McEnery, RS Miller, AI Mincer, MF Morales, P Nemethy, D Noyes, JM Ryan, FW Samuelson, A Shoup, G Sinnis, AJ Smith, GW Sullivan, DA Williams, S Westerhoff, ME Wilson, X Xu, GB Yodh, (2004), Limits on very high energy emission from gamma-ray bursts with the Milagro observatory, Astrophysical Journal, 604, L25-L28

Search for very high energy gamma rays from WIMP annihilations near the Sun with the Milagro detector

Physical Review D, 2004

R Atkins, W Benbow, D Berley, E Blaufuss, J Bussons, DG Coyne, T DeYoung, BL Dingus, DE Dorfan, RW Ellsworth, L Fleysher, R Fleysher, G Gisler, MM Gonzalez, JA Goodman, TJ Haines, E Hays, CM Hoffman, LA Kelley, CP Lansdell, JT Linnemann, JE McEnery, RS Miller, AI Mincer, MF Morales, P Nemethy, D Noyes, JM Ryan, FW Samuelson, A Shoup, G Sinnis, AJ Smith, GW Sullivan, DA Williams, S Westerhoff, ME Wilson, XW Xu, GB Yodh, (2004), Search for very high energy gamma rays from WIMP annihilations near the Sun with the Milagro detector, Physical Review D, 70

TeV gamma-ray survey of the northern hemisphere sky using the Milagro observatory

Astrophysical Journal, 2004

R Atkins, W Benbow, D Berley, E Blaufuss, J Bussons, DG Coyne, T DeYoung, BL Dingus, DE Dorfan, RW Ellsworth, L Fleysher, R Fleysher, G Gisler, MM Gonzalez, JA Goodman, TJ Haines, E Hays, CM Hoffman, LA Kelley, CP Lansdell, JT Linnemann, JE McEnery, RS Miller, AI Mincer, MF Morales, P Nemethy, D Noyes, JM Ryan, FW Samuelson, A Shoup, G Sinnis, AJ Smith, GW Sullivan, DA Williams, S Westerhoff, ME Wilson, XW Xu, GB Yodh, (2004), TeV gamma-ray survey of the northern hemisphere sky using the Milagro observatory, Astrophysical Journal, 608, 680-685

Applications of gas imaging micro-well detectors to an advanced Compton telescope

New Astronomy Reviews, 2004

PF Bloser, SD Hunter, JM Ryan, ML McConnell, RS Miller, TN Jackson, B Bai, S Jung, (2004), Applications of gas imaging micro-well detectors to an advanced Compton telescope, New Astronomy Reviews, 48, 299-303

Single-sided CZT strip detectors

Ieee Transactions on Nuclear Science, 2004

JR Macri, LA Hamel, M Julien, RS Miller, B Donmez, ML McConnell, JM Ryan, M Widholm, (2004), Single-sided CZT strip detectors, Ieee Transactions on Nuclear Science, 51, 2453-2460

Observation of TeV gamma rays from the Crab Nebula with Milagro using a new background rejection technique

Astrophysical Journal, 2003

R Atkins, W Benbow, D Berley, E Blaufuss, J Bussons, DG Coyne, RS Delay, T DeYoung, BL Dingus, DE Dorfan, RW Ellsworth, A Falcone, L Fleysher, R Fleysher, G Gisler, MM Gonzalez, JA Goodman, TJ Haines, E Hays, CM Hoffman, LA Kelley, RW Laird, J McCullough, JE McEnery, RS Miller, AI Mincer, MF Morales, P Nemethy, D Noyes, JM Ryan, FW Samuelson, M Schneider, B Shen, A Shoup, G Sinnis, AJ Smith, GW Sullivan, OT Tumer, K Wang, M Wascko, DA Williams, S Westerhoff, ME Wilson, X Xu, GB Yodh, (2003), Observation of TeV gamma rays from the Crab Nebula with Milagro using a new background rejection technique, Astrophysical Journal, 595, 803-811

The high-energy gamma-ray fluence and energy spectrum of GRB 970417a from observations with Milagrito

Astrophysical Journal, 2003

R Atkins, W Benbow, D Berley, ML Chen, DG Coyne, BL Dingus, DE Dorfan, RW Ellsworth, D Evans, A Falcone, L Fleysher, R Fleysher, G Gisler, MM Gonzalez, JA Goodman, TJ Haines, CM Hoffman, S Hugenberger, LA Kelley, S Klein, I Leonor, JF McCullough, JE McEnery, RS Miller, AI Mincer, MF Morales, P Nemethy, JM Ryan, FW Samuelson, B Shen, A Shoup, C Sinnis, AJ Smith, GW Sullivan, T Tumer, K Wang, MO Wascko, S Westerhoff, DA Williams, T Yang, GB Yodh, (2003), The high-energy gamma-ray fluence and energy spectrum of GRB 970417a from observations with Milagrito, Astrophysical Journal, 583, 824-832

Observation of GeV solar energetic particles from the 1997 November 6 event using Milagrito

Astrophysical Journal, 2003

A Falcone, R Atkins, W Benbow, D Berley, ML Chen, DG Coyne, BL Dingus, DE Dorfan, RW Ellsworth, L Fleysher, R Fleysher, G Gisler, JA Goodman, TJ Haines, CM Hoffman, S Hugenberger, LA Kelley, I Leonor, JF McCullough, JE McEnery, RS Miller, AI Mincer, MF Morales, P Nemethy, JM Ryan, B Shen, A Shoup, G Sinnis, AJ Smith, GW Sullivan, T Tumer, K Wang, MO Wascko, S Westerhoff, DA Williams, T Yang, GB Yodh, (2003), Observation of GeV solar energetic particles from the 1997 November 6 event using Milagrito, Astrophysical Journal, 588, 557-565

SONTRAC: An imaging spectrometer for MeV neutrons

Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research Section a-Accelerators Spectrometers Detectors and Associated Equipment, 2003

RS Miller, JR Macri, ML McConnell, JM Ryan, E Fluckiger, L Desorgher, (2003), SONTRAC: An imaging spectrometer for MeV neutrons, Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research Section a-Accelerators Spectrometers Detectors and Associated Equipment, 505, 36-40

A survey of the northern sky for TeV point sources

Astrophysical Journal, 2001

K Wang, R Atkins, W Benbow, D Berley, ML Chen, DG Coyne, BL Dingus, DE Dorfan, RW Ellsworth, A Falcone, L Fleysher, R Fleysher, G Gisler, JA Goodman, TJ Haines, CM Hoffman, S Hugenberger, LA Kelley, I Leonor, M McConnell, JF McCullough, JE McEnery, RS Miller, AI Mincer, MF Morales, P Nemethy, JM Ryan, FW Samuelson, B Shen, A Shoup, G Sinnis, AJ Smith, GW Sullivan, OT Tumer, O Wascko, S Westerhoff, DA Williams, T Yang, GB Yodh, Milagro Collaboration, (2001), A survey of the northern sky for TeV point sources, Astrophysical Journal, 558, 477-481

Milagrito, a TeV air-shower array

Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research Section a-Accelerators Spectrometers Detectors and Associated Equipment, 2000

R Atkins, W Benbow, D Berley, ML Chen, DG Coyne, RS Delay, BL Dingus, DE Dorfan, RW Ellsworth, C Espinoza, D Evans, A Falcone, L Fleysher, R Fleysher, G Gisler, JA Goodman, TJ Haines, CM Hoffman, S Hugenberger, LA Kelley, S Klein, I Leonor, J Macri, M McConnell, JF McCullough, JE McEnery, RS Miller, AI Mincer, MF Morales, MM Murray, P Nemethy, G Paliaga, JM Ryan, M Schneider, B Shen, A Shoup, G Sinnis, AJ Smith, GW Sullivan, TN Thompson, OT Tumer, K Wang, MO Wascko, S Westerhoff, DA Williams, T Yang, GB Yodh, Milagro Collaboration, (2000), Milagrito, a TeV air-shower array, Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research Section a-Accelerators Spectrometers Detectors and Associated Equipment, 449, 478-499

Evidence for TeV emission from GRB 970417a

Astrophysical Journal, 2000

R Atkins, W Benbow, D Berley, ML Chen, DG Coyne, BL Dingus, DE Dorfan, RW Ellsworth, D Evans, A Falcone, L Fleysher, R Fleysher, G Gisler, JA Goodman, TJ Haines, CM Hoffman, S Hugenberger, LA Kelley, I Leonor, M McConnell, JF McCullough, JE McEnery, RS Miller, AI Mincer, MF Morales, P Nemethy, JM Ryan, B Shen, A Shoup, C Sinnis, AJ Smith, GW Sullivan, T Tumer, K Wang, MO Wascko, S Westerhoff, DA Williams, T Yang, GB Yodh, (2000), Evidence for TeV emission from GRB 970417a, Astrophysical Journal, 533, L119-L122

TeV observations of Markarian 501 with the Milagrito water Cerenkov detector

Astrophysical Journal, 1999

R Atkins, W Benbow, D Berley, ML Chen, DG Coyne, RS Delay, BL Dingus, DE Dorfan, RW Ellsworth, C Espinoza, D Evans, A Falcone, L Fleysher, R Fleysher, G Gisler, JA Goodman, TJ Haines, CM Hoffman, S Hugenberger, LA Kelley, I Leonor, M McConnell, JF McCullough, JE McEnery, RS Miller, AI Mincer, MF Morales, MM Murray, P Nemethy, JM Ryan, M Schneider, B Shen, A Shoup, C Sinnis, AJ Smith, GW Sullivan, TN Thompson, T Tumer, K Wang, MO Wascko, S Westerhoff, DA Williams, T Yang, GB Yodh, (1999), TeV observations of Markarian 501 with the Milagrito water Cerenkov detector, Astrophysical Journal, 525, L25-L28

Conceptual design of a next-generation all-sky gamma-ray telescope operating at TeV energies

Astroparticle Physics, 1999

RS Miller, S Westerhoff, (1999), Conceptual design of a next-generation all-sky gamma-ray telescope operating at TeV energies, Astroparticle Physics, 11, 379-393

Atmospheric muon neutrino fraction above 1 GeV (vol 79, pg 345, 1997)

Physical Review Letters, 1997

R Clark, R BeckerSzendy, CB Bratton, J Breault, D Casper, ST Dye, W Gajewski, KS Ganezer, M Goldhaber, TJ Haines, PG Halverson, D Kielczewska, WR Kropp, JG Learned, J LoSecco, C McGrew, S Matsuno, RS Miller, L Price, F Reines, J Schultz, HW Sobel, J Stone, LR Sulak, R Svoboda, M Vagins, (1997), Atmospheric muon neutrino fraction above 1 GeV (vol 79, pg 345, 1997), Physical Review Letters, 79, 2754

Atmospheric muon neutrino fraction above 1 GeV

Physical Review Letters, 1997

R Clark, R BeckerSzendy, CB Bratton, J Breault, D Casper, ST Dye, W Gajewski, M Goldhaber, TJ Haines, PG Halverson, D Kielczewska, WR Kropp, JG Learned, J LoSecco, C McGrew, S Matsuno, RS Miller, L Price, F Reines, J Schultz, HW Sobel, J Stone, LR Sulak, R Svoboda, M Vagins, (1997), Atmospheric muon neutrino fraction above 1 GeV, Physical Review Letters, 79, 345-348

A search for radiative neutrino decay from supernovae

Astronomy & Astrophysics Supplement Series, 1996

RS Miller, JM Ryan, RC Svoboda, (1996), A search for radiative neutrino decay from supernovae, Astronomy & Astrophysics Supplement Series, 120, C635-C636

A SEARCH FOR MODERATE-ENERGY AND HIGH-ENERGY NEUTRINO EMISSION CORRELATED WITH GAMMA-RAY BURSTS

Astrophysical Journal, 1995

R BECKERSZENDY, CB BRATTON, J BREAULT, D CASPER, ST DYE, W GAJEWSKI, M GOLDHABER, TJ HAINES, PG HALVERSON, D KIELCZEWSKA, WR KROPP, JG LEARNED, S MATSUNO, J MATTHEWS, G MCGRATH, C MCGREW, RS MILLER, L PRICE, F REINES, J SCHULTZ, D SINCLAIR, HW SOBEL, JL STONE, LR SULAK, R SVOBODA, JC VANDERVELDE, (1995), A SEARCH FOR MODERATE-ENERGY AND HIGH-ENERGY NEUTRINO EMISSION CORRELATED WITH GAMMA-RAY BURSTS, Astrophysical Journal, 444, 415-418

NEUTRINO MEASUREMENTS WITH THE IMB DETECTOR

Nuclear Physics B, 1995

R BECKERSZENDY, CB BRATTON, D CASPER, ST DYE, W GAJEWSKI, K GANEZER, M GOLDHABER, TJ HAINES, PG HALVERSON, D KIELCZEWSKA, WR KROPP, JG LEARNED, J LOSECCO, G MCGRATH, C MCGREW, M MASUZAWA, S MATSUNO, RS MILLER, L PRICE, F REINES, J SCHULTZ, HW SOBEL, J STONE, LR SULAK, R SVOBODA, M VAGINS, (1995), NEUTRINO MEASUREMENTS WITH THE IMB DETECTOR, Nuclear Physics B, 331-336

The extragalactic diffuse gamma-ray emission and radiative neutrino decay

24th International Cosmic Ray Conference, Vol 2, 1995

RS Miller, JM Ryan, INT UNION PURE & APPL PHYS, (1995), The extragalactic diffuse gamma-ray emission and radiative neutrino decay, 24th International Cosmic Ray Conference, Vol 2, 299-302

A search for radiative neutrino decay from supernovae

24th International Cosmic Ray Conference, Vol 1, 1995

RS Miller, JM Ryan, RC Svoboda, INT UNION PURE & APPL PHYS, (1995), A search for radiative neutrino decay from supernovae, 24th International Cosmic Ray Conference, Vol 1, 654-657

NEW MAGNETIC MONOPOLE FLUX LIMITS FROM THE IMB PROTON DECAY DETECTOR

Physical Review D, 1994

R BECKERSZENDY, CB BRATTON, J BREAULT, D CASPER, ST DYE, K GANEZER, W GAJEWSKI, M GOLDHABER, TJ HAINES, PG HALVERSON, D KIELCZEWSKA, WR KROPP, JG LEARNED, J LOSECCO, S MATSUNO, G MCGRATH, C MCGREW, RS MILLER, L PRICE, F REINES, J SCHULTZ, HW SOBEL, JL STONE, LR SULAK, R SVOBODA, (1994), NEW MAGNETIC MONOPOLE FLUX LIMITS FROM THE IMB PROTON DECAY DETECTOR, Physical Review D, 49, 2169-2173

A SEARCH FOR ASTROPHYSICAL SOURCES OF LOW-ENERGY NEUTRINOS USING THE IMB DETECTOR

Astrophysical Journal, 1994

RS MILLER, R BECKERSZENDY, CB BRATTON, J BREAULT, D CASPER, ST DYE, W GAJEWSKI, M GOLDHABER, TJ HAINES, PG HALVERSON, D KIELCZEWSKA, WR KROPP, JG LEARNED, J LOSECCO, S MATSUNO, J MATTHEWS, G MCGRATH, C MCGREW, L PRICE, F REINES, J SCHULTZ, D SINCLAIR, HW SOBEL, JL STONE, LR SULAK, R SVOBODA, JC VANDERVELDE, (1994), A SEARCH FOR ASTROPHYSICAL SOURCES OF LOW-ENERGY NEUTRINOS USING THE IMB DETECTOR, Astrophysical Journal, 428, 629-632