Ram Accelerator Research Group

Dr. Eric C. Booth, Ph.D. is an instructor in the Department of Chemistry and Physics at Southeastern Louisiana University. He earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Rice University in 2005. Trained as a physical chemist, his work spans spectroscopy, nanomaterials and physical chemistry. At Rice he worked with Prof. R. Bruce Weisman on carbon nanotubes and fullerenes, and has co-authored studies of C₈₄ fullerene photophysics. His publications include investigations of advanced spectroscopic methods (for example, “Polarization Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering Using Noisy Light” in J. Raman Spectrosc.), and theoretical studies of nanoscale materials (e.g. krypton adsorption on single-wall carbon nanotubes). He is also listed as an inventor (with colleagues at Rice University) on patents for fluorescent carbon-nanotube inks and markers used in security/anti-counterfeiting applications.

Some of Dr. Booth’s key contributions include:

• Fluorescent nanotube inks (patents) – Co-inventor (with Rice University collaborators) of carbon-nanotube-based fluorescent inks and markers for security printing. The patent abstracts describe fluorescent inks comprising semiconducting carbon nanotubes, tailored for anti-counterfeiting applications.
• Noisy-light CARS spectroscopy – Co-author of “Polarization Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering Using Noisy Light” (Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, 2007). This work helped advance Raman spectroscopy techniques using phase-random (noisy) light sources.
• Fullerene (C₈₄) photophysics – Co-author on invited studies of C₈₄ fullerene isomers, including separation and photophysical-property measurements. These studies (with colleagues including S. Yoshida) revealed distinct excited-state lifetimes for different C₈₄ isomers.
• Nanotube adsorption physics – Co-author of a theoretical study (J. Low Temp. Phys. 2014) on how chirality affects krypton adsorption on single-wall carbon nanotubes. This work (with H.-Y. Kim et al.) models noble-gas adsorption phases on nanotubes of different chirality.

Throughout his career Dr. Booth has bridged chemistry and physics in multidisciplinary research. He continues to apply his expertise in spectroscopic analysis and materials science to applied problems. In his current role at Southeastern Louisiana University he has also become involved in advanced propulsion research. For example, he has supervised graduate students working on ram accelerator systems and supersonic flow. His students have developed computational models of Busemann inlet flowfields and radiative heat transfer for accelerator tubes, reflecting Dr. Booth’s contribution to the university’s Ram Accelerator Research Group.

Brett Poole is a seasoned application programmer with over two decades of experience, currently serving Cornell University. He specializes in Python-based software development and IT systems support, with a strong background in full-stack web technologies and systems integration. Brett brings both enterprise-level discipline and startup-style agility to complex software environments.

In the Ram Accelerator Research Group, Brett focuses on developing data acquisition tools, simulation interfaces, and backend automation systems to support experimental and theoretical research. His fluency in Python, Rust, and web API design enables efficient handling of telemetry, diagnostics, and visualization pipelines, all critical to advancing hypersonic propulsion research.

Beyond software, Brett provides robust IT support for the team’s infrastructure, ensuring stable, secure, and scalable systems for collaboration, remote computation, and high-throughput data workflows. He also supports version control, documentation standards, and continuous deployment processes that streamline interdisciplinary research efforts.

Driven by a passion for space access and scientific innovation, Brett brings a pragmatic, solution-focused mindset to the group. He is committed to building tools that not only serve researchers today but lay the groundwork for more ambitious, next-generation engineering challenges tomorrow.

Bjorn Loney, M.S., is currently a professional Mechanical Engineering Design Specialist and former CAD Manager currently contributing to the Ram Accelerator Research Group as a spacecraft systems and materials science engineer and designer. With a strong professional and educational foundation in mechanical engineering technology and materials science, he brings expertise in designing multi-functional structural systems that meet the demanding constraints of space environments—balancing strength, thermal performance, and mass efficiency. His academic work in Integrated Science and Technology focused on carbon nanotube and composite material development, thermal protection strategies, and vibration-resistant structures, equipping him to tackle key spacecraft design challenges.

At the core of Bjorn’s research is the integration of advanced materials into spacecraft architecture. He leverages knowledge of additive and subtractive manufacturing, carbon-fiber composites, single- and multi-wall carbon nanotube polymer and metallic alloys, and interlaminar phase-change thermal management systems to create structures that not only carry loads but also manage heat, shield from radiation, and support embedded electronics. His mechanical engineering skill set includes finite element analysis, structural dynamics, and rapid prototyping—enabling iterative development of lightweight, multifunctional spacecraft components.

Within the Ram Accelerator Research Group, Bjorn is responsible for advancing the material design of the ram accelerator’s payload housing and thermal control systems. He leads efforts to optimize material layups and integration strategies, ensuring that each component maintains structural integrity during high-acceleration launches and extreme space temperature cycles. By integrating thermal protection and mechanical support into unified composite structures, he helps reduce system mass while increasing reliability and functionality.

Bjorn’s collaborative approach bridges the materials science, systems engineering, and mechanical engineering teams, fostering cross-functional innovation. He actively engages in experiments to validate composite thermal behavior in simulated space conditions, runs mechanical testing campaigns for vibration and load performance, and contributes to simulation-driven design workflows. His commitment is to push the design and manufacturing envelope of spacecraft structural materials, enabling next-generation ram accelerator missions with resilient, lightweight, and integrated hardware.