Vishaal Singh

My research focuses on the characterization of dynamic ice shells, using experimental spectroscopy, ice mechanics, radiative transfer modeling, and instrument development. I aim to identify the limits of our diagnostic capabilities - to improve our understanding of the surface physics and chemistry of ocean worlds, asteroids & comets.

In other words, I break (and build) things in the lab to establish how they work beyond Earth.

Fields of Interest

  • Cryogenic Spectroscopy of ice-mineral analogs of Europa, Enceladus, and other Icy Worlds: estimate optical, spectral & mechanical properties of icy surfaces to constrain crystallinity, composition, and age; identify sites of “fresh” oceanic material for target site selection
  • Design, build and test a robust communication tether prototype for ocean world exploration: laboratory mechanical & optical transmission characterization to improve TRL to 5; analyses using cryogenic fault shearing, composition, and freeze-in tests
  • Ice Fracture origination and propogation in icy ocean worlds: estimate mechanics for formation of lineament vs cycloids on Europa using laboratory cryogenic tests

Education

  • Ph.D. in Geological Sciences, Arizona State University, 05/2021 (Dissertation: On Thin Ice: Experimental Spectroscopy and Ice Mechanics in Support of Ocean World Exploration)
  • B.Sc. (honors) - M.Sc. in Applied Geology, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur, 07/2016 (Dissertation: Investigations on the low ENA albedo regions on the Moon and their association with lunar surface properties)

Honors & Awards

V. Singh, C. McCarthy, M. Silvia, M.V. Jakuba, K.L. Craft, A.R. Rhoden, C.R. German, and T.A. Koczynski. Surviving in Ocean Worlds: Experimental Characterization of Fiber Optic Tethers Across Europa-Like Ice Faults and Unraveling the Sliding Behavior of Ice, PSJ (In Press) https://arxiv.org/abs/2211.10337

V. Singh, J. Berdis, M. S. Gudipati, A. R. Rhoden, B. L. Henderson. What lies on Europa’s Surface? – (I) Limitations of using the 1.65/1.5 μm band as an indicator of surface crystallinity due to evolution with thermal history of the ice. (In preparation – draft available on request)

V. Singh, 2021. On Thin Ice: Experimental spectroscopy and ice mechanics in support of ocean world exploration (PhD Thesis). Available from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global (2531556780). https://keep.lib.asu.edu/items/161531

B. Schmidt, K. Craft, T. Cwik, K. Zacny, M. Smith, V. Singh, … Spears, A. (2021). Dive, Dive, Dive: Accessing the Subsurface of Ocean Worlds. Bulletin of the AAS, 53(4). https://doi.org/10.3847/25c2cfeb.ffef076e