Journal Publications
  1. Roth-Johnson, P. and R.E. Wirz, “Aero-structural investigation of biplane wind turbine blades,” Wind Energy, 2012. DOI: 10.1002/we.1583
    (Copyright 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.. This article may be downloaded for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)       [pdf]
  2. Mao H.-S., Wirz R., "Quasi-equilibrium electron density along a magnetic field line," Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 101, 22. DOI: 10.1063/1.476830
    (Copyright 2012 American Institute of Physics. This article may be downloaded for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and the American Institute of Physics.)       [pdf]
  3. Tarzi Z., Speyer J., Wirz R., “Fuel Optimum Low-Thrust Elliptic Transfer using Numerical Averaging,” Submitted to Acta Astronautica, July 2012, accepted subject to minor modifications  
  4. Conversano R., Wirz R., “Mission Capability Assessment of CubeSats Using a Miniature Ion Thruster,” Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, submitted June 2012  
  5. Wirz R., Anderson J., Katz I., “Time-Dependent Erosion of Ion Optics,” AIAA Journal of Propulsion and Power, Vol. 27, No. 1, January–February 2011, DOI: 10.2514/1.46845.  [pdf]
  6. Wirz R., Katz I., Goebel D., Anderson J., “Electron Backstreaming Determination for Ion Thrusters,” AIAA Journal of Propulsion and Power, Vol. 27, No. 1, January–February 2011, DOI: 10.2514/1.46844.  [pdf]
  7. Wirz R., Shariff S., "Ground Effects for Widely Spaced, Supersonic Vertical Retrorockets on CEV," Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Vol. 46, No. 3, pp. 599-605, May-June 2009.  [pdf]
  8. Wirz R., Anderson J. R., Goebel D., Katz I., "Decel Grid Effects on Ion Thruster Grid Erosion," IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, September 2008.  [pdf]
  9. Hofer R., Johnson L. K., Goebel D., Wirz R., "Effects of an Internally-Mounted Cathode on Hall Thruster Plume Properties," IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, September 2008.  [pdf]
  10. Wirz R., Goebel D., "Effects of Magnetic Field Topography on Ion Thruster Discharge Performance," Plasma Sources Science and Technology, June 2008, 17 (2008) 035010.  [pdf]
  11. Wirz R., Sullivan R., Przybylowski J., Silva M., "Discharge Hollow Cathode and Extraction Grid Analysis for the MiXI Ion Thruster," International Journal of Plasma Science and Engineering, Vol. 2008, Article ID 693825, June 2008.  [pdf]
  12. Goebel D., Wirz R., Katz I., "Analytical Ion Thruster Discharge Performance Model," Journal of Propulsion and Power, 0748-4658, Vol. 23, No.5, pp. 1055-1067, 2007.  [pdf]
Tech Briefs and Technical Reports
  1. Wirz R., Nicolson A., “Review of the Present Solar Industry,” Technical Investment Report for Renewable Energy Technology and Investment Consultants, June 2009   
  2. Wirz R., Gamero M., Goebel D., “Pulsed Operation of an Ion Accelerator,” NASA Tech Brief, NPO-44961, pg. 52, Vol. 33, No. 2, Feb 2009   
  3. Krishnan M., Wirz R., et al., “MEMS FEEP Thruster with Adjustable Isp,” AFRL-PR-ED-TR-2007-0041, Air Force Research Laboratory Technical Report, Final Report, 2007   
  4. Goebel D., Polk J. E., Wirz R., “Increasing the Life of a Xenon-Ion Spacecraft Thruster,” NASA Tech Brief, NPO-43495, Vol. 31, No. 11, Nov 2007.   
  5. Snyder J., Anderson J., Wirz R., “NEXT: NASA’s Evolutionary Xenon Thruster – PM1 Environment Test Report,” JPL Document, JPL D-37748, 2007   
  6. Wirz R., “TPF-I Propulsion System for Formation Flying Interferometry,” JPL Document #33367, 2005   
  7. Hagerman G., Wirz R., “Feasibility Study of an OTEC Plant for Puerto Rico,” Ocean Energy Resources, Inc., Gibbs & Cox, Inc., Oct 1997   
  8. Wirz R. (Design Leader), Tutton R., Neu W., “Harare, a 2400 TEU Trans-Pacific Containership,” Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineer (SNAME), May 1993, 2nd Place for International Design Competition.   
  9. Wirz R., “Accelerometer Layouts for the Cross-Sections of the Space Station Freedom Main Truss,” NASA LaRC Internal Report, August 1992   
  10. Bhardwaj M., Bulsara V., Kokan D., Shariff S., Svarverud E., Wirz R., “Design of a Pressurized Lunar Rover,” NASA-CR-192033, April 1992   
Other Publications
  1. Johnson P., Wirz R., “Structural design of spars for 100-meter biplane wind turbine blades,” AWEA Windpower Conference, Atlanta, GA, June 3-6, 2012. (Presentation)  
  2. Chiu P., Johnson P., Wirz R., “Aerodynamic Performance of Biplane Airfoils for Wind Turbine Blades,” AWEA Windpower Conference, Atlanta, GA, June 3-6, 2012. (Presentation)  
  3. Wirz R., Chu L., Patino M., Mao H., Araki S. J., “Well-Characterized Plasma Experiments for Validation of Computational Models”, IEPC-2011-122, 32nd International Electric Propulsion Conference, Kurhaus, Wiesbaden, Germany, Sept 11-15, 2011   [pdf]
  4. Conversano R., Wirz R., “CubeSat Lunar Mission Using a Miniature Ion Thruster,” AIAA-2011-6083, 47th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference, San Diego, CA, July 31-August 3, 2011  [pdf]
  5. Mao H.-S., Wirz R., “Comparison of Charged Particle Tracking Methods for Non-Uniform Magnetic Fields,” AIAA 2011-3739, 42nd AIAA Plasmadynamics and Lasers Conference, Honolulu, HI, 2011  [pdf]
  6. Araki S., Wirz R., “Collision Modeling for High Velocity Ions in a Quiescent Gas,” AIAA 2011-3740, 42nd AIAA Plasmadynamics and Lasers Conference, Honolulu, HI, 2011  [pdf]
  7. Wirz R., Johnson P., “Aero-Structural Performance of Multiplane Wind Turbine Blades,” AIAA 2011-3025, 29th AIAA Applied Aerodynamics Conference, Honolulu, HI, 2011  [pdf]
  8. Aspe S., Wirz R., “Computational Model for Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT) Design,” Wind Power 2011, Poster Session, Anaheim, CA, May 22-25, 2011  
  9. Wirz R., “Long Duration Assessment of Electron Backstreaming for Ion Optics,” IEPC-2009-222, 31st International Electric Propulsion Conference, Ann Arbor, Michigan, September, 2009   
  10. Tarzi Z., Speyer J., Wirz R., “Optimum Low-Thrust Transfer between Arbitrary Elliptic Orbits for Power-Limited Spacecraft using Asymptotic Expansions and Averaging,” IEPC-2009-222, 31st International Electric Propulsion Conference, Ann Arbor, Michigan, September, 2009   
  11. Marrese-Reading C., Ziemer J., Scharf D., Wirz R., et al., “MicroNewton Electric Propulsion Requirements to Enhance or Enable Future NASA Missions,” IEPC-2009-216, 31st International Electric Propulsion Conference, Ann Arbor, Michigan, September, 2009   
  12. Marrese-Reading C., et al., “Nominal and Contingency Earth Landing Retro Rocket System Options for the Orion Spacecraft,” IEEE Aerospace Conference, Big Sky, MT, March 2009   
  13. Wirz R., Katz I., Goebel D., Anderson J., “Electron Backstreaming Determination for Ion Thrusters,” AIAA-2008-4732   
  14. Wirz R., Anderson J., Katz I., Goebel D., “Time-Dependent Erosion of Ion Optics,” AIAA-2008-4529   
  15. Martin S., Scharf D., Wirz R., “Design Study for a Space Interferometer,” IEEE-1454, IEEE Aerospace Conference, Big Sky, MT, March 2008   
  16. Martin S., Scharf D., Wirz R., “Design Study for a Space Interferometer,” IEEE-1454, IEEE Aerospace Conference, Big Sky, MT, March 2008   
  17. Lengyel A., Wirz R., “Miniature Valve for Xenon Thrusters,” AIAA-2008-5085   
  18. Goebel D., Polk J., Wirz R., et al., “Qualification of Commercial XIPS Ion Thrusters for NASA Deep Space Missions,” AIAA-2008-4914   
  19. Goebel D., Polk J., Wirz R., et al., “Qualification of Commercial XIPS Ion Thrusters for NASA Deep Space Missions,” AIAA-2008-4914   
  20. Wirz R., Anderson J. R., Goebel D., Katz I., “XIPS Ion Thruster Grid Erosion Assessment for Deep Space Missions,” IEPC -2007- 265, 30th International Electric Propulsion Conference, Florence, Italy, 2007   
  21. Wirz R., Anderson J. R., Goebel D., Katz I., “XIPS Ion Thruster Grid Erosion Assessment for Deep Space Missions,” IEPC -2007- 265, 30th International Electric Propulsion Conference, Florence, Italy, 2007   
  22. Wirz R., Shariff S., “Ground Effects for CEV Vertical Retrorockets,” AIAA-2007-5758, 43rd Joint Propulsion Conference, Cincinnati, OH, 2007   
  23. Martin S., Scharf D., Wirz R., Lay O., McKinstry D., Mennesson B., Purcell G., Rodriguez J., Scherr L., Smith J. R., Wayne L., “TPF-Emma: concept study of a planet finding space interferometer,” Proc. SPIE Vol. 6693, Techniques and Instrumentation for Detection of Exoplanets III, Daniel R. Coulter, Ed., 2007.   
  24. Wirz R., Goebel D., “Ion Thruster Discharge Performance per Magnetic Field Topography,” AIAA 2006-4487, 42nd Joint Propulsion Conference, Sacramento, CA, 2006, Best Paper of “Ion Thruster Physics and Modeling” Session   
  25. Wirz R., Sullivan R., Przybylowski J., Silva M., “Discharge Hollow Cathode and Extraction Grid Analysis for the MiXI Ion Thruster,” AIAA 2006-4498, 42nd Joint Propulsion Conference, Sacramento, CA, 2006   
  26. Goebel D., Wirz R., Katz I., “Analytical Ion Thruster Discharge Performance Model,” AIAA 2006-4486, 42nd Joint Propulsion Conference, Sacramento, CA, 2006   
  27. Katz I., Mikellides I., Goebel D., Jameson K., Wirz R., Johnson L., “Production of High Energy Ions Near an Ion Thruster Discharge Hollow Cathode,” AIAA-2006-4485, 42nd Joint Propulsion Conference, Sacramento, CA, 2006   
  28. Li Y., Hamlin L., Wirz R., Adams D., Moore G., Coppolino R., Peng C., Levine M., “Dynamic Simulations for the Terrestrial Planet Finder Interferometer,” Space Systems Optomechanics and Dynamics II, SPIE Conference, San Diego, CA, 2005   
  29. Katz I., Mikellides I., R. Wirz, J. Anderson, D. Goebel, “Ion Thruster Life Models,” AIAA-2005-4256, 41st Joint Propulsion Conference, Tucson, AZ, 2005   
  30. Wirz R., Katz I., “Plasma Processes of DC Ion Thruster Discharge Chambers,” AIAA 2005-3690, 41st Joint Propulsion Conference, Tucson, AZ, 2005   
  31. Wirz R., “Computational Modeling of a Miniature Ion Thruster Discharge,” AIAA-2005-3887, 41st Joint Propulsion Conference, Tucson, AZ, 2005   
  32. Wirz R., “Discharge Plasma Processes of Ring-Cusp Ion Thrusters,” Ph.D. Dissertation, Aeronautics, Caltech, Pasadena, CA, 2005, http://thesis.library.caltech.edu/1974/1/Wirz_Thesis.pdf   
  33. Wirz R., Mueller J., Gale M., Marrese C., “Miniature Ion Engines for Precision Formation Flying,” AIAA-2004-4115, 40th Joint Propulsion Conference, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, 2004   
  34. Wirz R., Katz I., “2-D Discharge Chamber Model for Ion Thrusters,” AIAA-2004-4115, 40th Joint Propulsion Conference, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, 2004   
  35. Wirz R., Katz I., “A Preliminary 2-D Computational Model of an Ion Thruster Discharge Chamber,” AIAA-2003-5163, 39th Joint Propulsion Conference, Huntsville, AL, 2003   
  36. Wirz R., Goebel D., Marrese C., Mueller J., "Development of Cathode Technologies for a Miniature Ion Thruster," AIAA-2003-4722, 39th Joint Propulsion Conference, Huntsville, AL, 2003   
  37. Katz I., Anderson J., Goebel D., Wirz R., Sengupta A., “Plasma Generation Near an Ion Thruster Discharge Chamber Hollow Cathode,” AIAA 2003-5161, 39th Joint Propulsion Conference, Huntsville, AL, 2003   
  38. Wirz R., Polk J., Marrese C., Mueller J., Escobedo J., Sheehan P., “Experimental and Computational Investigation of the Performance of a Micro-Ion Thruster,” AIAA-2002-3835, 38th Joint Propulsion Conference, Indianapolis, IN, 2002   
  39. Wirz R., Polk J., Marrese C., Mueller J., “Development and Testing of a 3cm Electron Bombardment Micro-Ion Thruster,” IEPC 01-343, 27th International Electric Propulsion Conference, Pasadena, CA, 2001