Publications

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

2026

1. 

   An Experimentally Validated Magnetic Force Model for Discrete Element Modeling of Paramagnetic Granular Media

   Anmol Sikka, and Christine Hartzell

   Granular Matter, May 2026

   Abs Bib DOI

   Magnetic interactions between metallic granular particles can lead to magnetic cohesion, influencing the flow characteristics of granular media. This magnetic cohesion has been studied in the context of Magneto-Rheological Fluids (MRFs) for their unique flow properties and their use across multiple industries. In Planetary Science, magnetic cohesion can influence regolith behavior on metallic asteroids with remnant magnetic fields. The upcoming NASA Psyche mission will study the metallic asteroid 16-Psyche, which is expected to have a surface magnetic field. Modeling and simulating the effect of magnetic cohesion on granular media is crucial for accurately simulating the behavior of magnetic granular materials in both terrestrial and planetary applications. We introduce an improved magnetic force model in LIGGGHTS, an open-source discrete element modeling software, to calculate magnetic forces between paramagnetic grains. The model is based on the Mutual Dipole Method and the Inclusion Model, extensions of the Fixed Dipole Method. We validate the model using 1-D unit tests and compare the results of avalanche simulations of paramagnetic regolith with experimental data. This work contributes to understanding the role of magnetic cohesion in small body surface processes and provides a tool for future studies of magnetic granular materials in DEM.

   @article{sikka2026a,
     title = {An Experimentally Validated Magnetic Force Model for Discrete Element Modeling of Paramagnetic Granular Media},
     author = {Sikka, Anmol and Hartzell, Christine},
     year = {2026},
     month = may,
     journal = {Granular Matter},
     volume = {28},
     number = {3},
     pages = {53},
     issn = {1434-7636},
     doi = {10.1007/s10035-026-01643-x},
     urldate = {2026-05-07},
     langid = {english},
     keywords = {Asteroid psyche,Magnetic cohesion,Magnetic dipoles,Magnetic force model,MRF,Multipole methods,Numerical modeling,SSDEM},
   }

2023

1. 

   Development of an Empirical Model of the Force between Paramagnetic Particles in Uniform Magnetic Field on M-type Asteroids

   Anmol Sikka, Ian DesJardin, Thomas Leps, and Christine Hartzell

   Jul 2023

   Abs Bib DOI

   M-type asteroids may have remanent magnetic fields. Regolith particles on M-type asteroids are likely to have metallic components, causing them to be paramagnetic and respond to an external magnetic field. Paramagnetic particles placed in an external magnetic field are influenced by induced magnetic moments of neighboring particles. Therefore, the magnetic force between regolith particles on an M-type asteroid can change the net cohesion of the regolith. Previous works have shown the influence of cohesive forces in the evolution of rubble-pile asteroids. This work characterizes the magnetic force between regolith particles on M-type asteroids. We implement existing models of the magnetic force between paramagnetic particles placed in an external magnetic field and then present an empirical model of this force for two magnetic field orientations as an essential step toward a general semiempirical model that the wider planetary science community can more easily use to investigate the significance of this force.

   @article{sikka_development_2023,
     title = {Development of an Empirical Model of the Force between Paramagnetic Particles in Uniform Magnetic Field on M-type Asteroids},
     volume = {4},
     issn = {2632-3338},
     doi = {10.3847/PSJ/ace323},
     pages = {129},
     number = {7},
     journaltitle = {The Planetary Science Journal},
     shortjournal = {Planet. Sci. J.},
     author = {Sikka, Anmol and {DesJardin}, Ian and Leps, Thomas and Hartzell, Christine},
     year = {2023},
     month = jul,
     date = {2023-07-26},
     langid = {english},
   }

Technical Reports & White Papers

2024

1. 

   Near-Earth Objects Workshops to Assess Reconnaissance for Planetary Defense: Working Groups Final Report

   Masatoshi Hirabayashi, Andy Rivkin, Paul Abell, Brent Barbee, and 34 more authors

   Oct 2024

   Abs

   Planetary defense against hazardous asteroid and comet impacts on Earth is a growing applied planetary science field with the aims of understanding the nature of near-Earth objects (NEOs), assessing the hazards and opportunities they present to us, and developing operational capabilities for defending ourselves by preventing NEO impacts on Earth. The consequences of NEO impacts can range from harmless meteorite falls; to catastrophic damage to metropolitan areas; to extensive regional devastation; to even extinction level events. With the smaller sized objects vastly outnumbering the larger ones, the most likely impact hazard at any given time is a small NEO that is still large enough to penetrate deeply enough into our atmosphere to deliver harmful amounts of energy to the ground. The most difficult of those to defend against are the smallest that are still large enough to be harmful, because those will also generally be the most difficult to detect far enough in advance to take effective defensive actions. Additionally, smaller NEOs are much more challenging targets for spacecraft navigation systems and measurement instruments than are larger NEOs.

Conference Proceedings

2024

1. DPS 2024

   DEM Simulations of avalanching of metallic regolith under the influence of magnetic forces

   Anmol Sikka, and Christine Hartzell

   In AAS/Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting Abstracts, 2024
2. GRC & GRS 2024

   Magnetic Force Model to simulate Avalanching on Metallic Asteroids like 16-Psyche

   Anmol Sikka, and Christine Hartzell

   In Granular Matter Gordon Research Seminar and Conference, 2024

   Poster
3. LPSC 2024

   Extending LIGGGHTS to Perform Discrete Element Method Simulations of Mass Wasting Events in Uniform Magnetic Field on Psyche (16)-Like Metallic Bodies

   A. Sikka, and C. Hartzell

   In LPI Contributions LPSC 2022, Mar 2024

   Abs

   We present a magnetic force model implemented in LIGGGHTS, an open-source Discrete Element Modeling software, along with results of possible avalanching on metallic bodies like Psyche.

2023

1. ACM 2023

   Empirical Model of the Force Between Paramagnetic Particles in Uniform Magnetic Field on M-Type Asteroids

   A. Sikka, and C. Hartzell

   In LPI Contributions, Mar 2023

   Abs

   We present an empirical model to calculate the force between two paramagnetic particles in a uniform magnetic field, an essential step to our aim to develop a reliable and fast model for surface morphology simulations (DEM) for M-type asteroids.

2. SmallSatTech

   Sanket—Technology Demonstration of Antenna Deployment System on PSLV Stage 4 Orbital Platform

   K. Jagdale, M. Munjal, P. Kurrey, A. Wakode, and 27 more authors

   In Advances in Small Satellite Technologies, Singapore, Apr 2023

   Abs DOI

   An Antenna Deployment System has become an essential component of any pico- or nano-satellite design due to space constraints during launch. The Sanket mission is a technology demonstration designed to be flown on the Indian Space Research Organization’s PSLV Stage 4 Orbital Platform (PS4-OP) (Announcement of opportunity for orbital platform. Indian Space Research Organisation, Bangalore [1]) and aims to qualify the team’s Antenna Deployment System in Ultra High Frequency band to a TRL-7 (Technology Readiness Level) in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Sanket, i.e. the complete system, comprises an ADS and an auxiliary system. The purpose of the auxiliary system is to test the ADS on PS4-OP simulating a 1U CubeSat mission life cycle and conditions. Sanket will be mounted on PS4-OP which remains in LEO for around 6 months. Our Antenna Deployment System is developed as an independent module that is compatible with standard CubeSat sizes 1U, 2U and 3U.

3. Ascend 2023

   SIZLE: Smallsat to Image Zodiacal Light Above Ecliptic

   Melissa Buys, Evan H. Feinberg, Jonathon Gabriel, Charless Pett, and 15 more authors

   In ASCEND 2023, Oct 2023

   Abs DOI

   This paper presents the mission design of SIZLE (SmallSat to Image Zodiacal Light Above the Ecliptic), a pioneering endeavor tailored for NASA’s Astrophysics Pioneers Program. SIZLE’s main science mission will aim to address fundamental questions outlined in the Decadal Strategy for Planetary Science and Astrobiology 2023-2032. The primary objective of this mission is to enhance our understanding of interplanetary dust grains by capturing imagery of the zodiacal light. Furthermore, SIZLE aims to demonstrate the viability of solar sails as a propulsion system for reaching remote observation points above the ecliptic. The continuous thrust generated by solar winds equips spacecraft with the capability for extended missions requiring substantial changes in velocity. While practical realization of SIZLE’s trajectory demands advancements in solar sail materials and technology, solar sails offer an enticing avenue for achieving SIZLE’s mission objectives. This paper documents the mission and spacecraft design. The designed trajectory will put the spacecraft in a 30 degree inclined heliocentric orbit with a 1 AU semi-major axis. This final orbit maximises the science imaging capabilities of the mission. All scientific instruments and components on the spacecraft have been chosen as commercial off the shelf (COTS) components. This choice minimizes the time needed to manufacture the spacecraft since minimal integration and testing would be needed. The greatest technological development required for SIZLE would be advancements in solar sail technology.

2022

1. LPSC 2022

   Characterizing Magnetic Force Between Paramagnetic Particles of Magnetic Asteroids

   A. Sikka, I. DesJardin, and C. Hartzell

   In LPI Contributions LPSC 2022, Mar 2022

   Abs

   The paper characterizes the role of the magnetic force on metallic asteroids with remnant magnetic fields by developing an empirical fit to compute the force.

2021

1. Scitech 2021

   Survey and Analysis of Payloads for Missions on PSLV’s Orbital Platform

   Aniruddha R. Ranade, Anmol Sikka, Sanskriti Bhansali, Karan S. Jagdale, and 28 more authors

   In AIAA Scitech 2021 Forum, Jan 2021

   Abs DOI

   In this paper, prospects of the utilization of the 4th stage of ISRO’s PSLV, after the completion of the launch mission, as an orbital platform, to host scientific payloads have been discussed. Payloads from 4 domains - Technological Demonstration, Earth Observation, Microgravity, Biology Experiments and the associated mission concepts have been surveyed, and comments have been made on their suitability to be launched onboard the orbital platform. Technological challenges in achieving these have been highlighted. Based on this analysis, two technology demonstration missions have been proposed by the team.

2020

1. SmallSatTech

   Quality Assurance Practices for Student Satellite Teams

   Yash Sanghvi, Anmol Sikka, and Aniruddha Ravindra Ranade

   In Advances in Small Satellite Technologies, Singapore, Jan 2020

   Abs

   Pratham, IIT Bombay’s first student satellite was launched on September 26, 2016 onboard PSLV C-35. The intended mission life was of 4 months. The satellite was operational but the mission was not successful as only beacon signal was received and not the downlink signal. During the post-launch analysis, the team realized the importance of maintaining the quality. The IIT Bombay Student Satellite Team then started working on instituting quality assurance and management practices within the team. In the process, we listed and made few guidelines that can be useful for initiating and managing quality assurance in Student Satellite Projects across the world. This paper talks about our initial analysis and then lists down various activities to be performed to assure quality.

2019

1. Learnings from Pratham, First Student Satellite of IIT Bombay

   Aniruddha R. Ranade, Anmol Sikka, Yash Sanghvi, Sanket Chirame, and 6 more authors

   In , India, Jan 2019

   Abs

   Pratham, IIT Bombay’s first student satellite, was launched on 26th September 2016. The satellite was operational, but the mission was only 90% successful as only the beacon signal was received and not the downlink signal. After launch, an exhaustive analysis was done to identify possible causes of failure, including a review of the whole journey of the Pratham from conceptualization to launch, to identify all the possible improvements at each stage. This paper gives some generic suggestions and tips which can be incorporated throughout different phases of the project to avoid similar mistakes in future missions.