• B.S., 1982, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Ph.D., 1989, Univeristy of Pennsylvania

Research Interests:

Dr. Kieda has focused his research in the field of experimental high energy astrophysics. His main research interests include energetic phenomena in compact objects such as Active Galactic Nuclei and black holes, astrophysical signatures of quantum gravity, quark matter, and determination the origins of cosmic rays with energies above 10¹² eV. This research involves construction of observatories in gamma ray astronomy (VERITAS project http://veritas.sao.utah.edu, Whipple Observatory, CASA-MIA observatory) and cosmic ray physics (High Resolution Fly's Eye Experiment (HiRes), the Dual Imaging Cerenkov Experiment (DICE), and BLANCA cosmic ray observatory). Dr. Kieda is also involved in the computation aspects of experimental astrophysics, including simulations of particle interactions with the atmosphere, simulation of new techniques leading to higher resolution measurements, and simulation of detector response.

Dr. Kieda is the Principal Investigator of the Utah Gamma Ray Astrophysics group as well as the current Director of the Utah High Energy Astrophysics Institute. The mission of the Institute is to foster new directions in astrophysics research in the State of Utah and to develop synergistic relationships between astrophysics and high energy physics experimentalists and theorists. Additional details of the Institute program can be found at http://www.he-astro.physics.utah.edu.

Dr. Kieda also participates in the analysis of high energy astrophysics satellite data, including the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO) and the soon to be launched INTEGRAL satellite. Dr. Kieda also has interest in solid state physics and medical physics, and has been awarded several patents in electrosurgical technology, electronic signal processing, and for a quasicrystalline coating (developed with O. Symko) useful for medical and electro-mechanical applications.

Selected Recent Publications

• "Detection of a Cosmic Ray with Measured Energy Well Beyond the Expected Spectral Cutoff Due to Cosmic Microwave Radiation" (with D.J. Bird et al.), Ap. J. 441, 144 (1995).
• "Evidence for Correlated Changes in the Spectrum and Composition of Cosmic Rays at Extremely High Energies" (with D.J. Bird et al.), Phys. Rev. Lett. 71, 3401 (1993).
• "Cosmic Ray Energy Spectrum Observed by the Fly's Eye," D.J. Bird et al., Ap. J. 424, 497 (1994).
• "The cosmic ray composition between 10¹⁴ and 10¹⁶ eV," M.A.K. Glasmacher et al, Astroparticle Physics 12, 1 (1999).
• "Elemental Composition of Cosmic Rays Near the Knee by Multiparameter Measurements of Air Showers" (S. P. Swordy and D. B. Kieda), Astroparticle Physics 13, 137 (2000).
• "VERITAS: Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System'' (with T.C. Weekes et al.), Towards a Major Atmospheric Cerenkov Detector V, Berg-en-Dal, Space Research Unit, Potchefstroom University for CHE, O.C. de Jager, editor (1997).
• "A High Resolution Method for Measuring Cosmic Ray Composition Beyond 10 TeV" (with D. B. Kieda et al.), Astroparticle Physics , Astropart. Phys. 15, 287 (2001).