Joseph Steve Nunez
Engineering (electrical)
Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona, US
Graduation date: Spring 2028
Additional details: Honors student
FURI | Fall 2026, Needs Review
Development of a Soft-Magnetic Material Characterization Platform for Low-Earth Orbit Electronic Systems
Increasing power density demands in aerospace electrical systems require smaller, more efficient magnetic components. Soft-magnetic materials enable high-frequency power conversion and reduced component size; however, their performance may vary under the environmental conditions of space. This research develops a compact characterization printed circuit board for evaluating soft-magnetic materials in low-Earth orbit. The platform integrates boost conversion, Gallium-Nitride-based transformer excitation, voltage and current sensing, and microcontroller data acquisition along with storage. The system is designed to capture magnetic hysteresis behavior for determining properties including coercivity, remanence, and core power losses, enabling future in-orbit evaluation of magnetic materials for aerospace power electronics.
Mentor: Zhicheng Guo