Laser TOF-MS for In Situ Analysis of Outer Planetary Moons and Small Bodies

Details Laser TOF-MS for In Situ Analysis of Outer Planetary Moons and Small Bodies Laser TOF-MS for In Situ Analysis of Outer Planetary Moons and Small Bodies

Jan 2001

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2001iaop.work...16b&link_type=abstract

Forum on Innovative Approaches to Outer Planetary Exploration 2001-2020, p. 16

Computer Science

Performance

Mass Spectrometers, Microanalysis, Miniaturization, Time Of Flight Spectrometers, Space Exploration, In Situ Measurement, Mass Spectra, Pulsed Lasers, Sampling

Scientific paper

The in-depth exploration of the moons and small bodies of the outer solar system represents an enormously exciting and challenging long-term vision for planetary science. Such missions will require increasingly sophisticated and miniaturized robotic analytical tools for in situ sampling and composition studies. Surface and sub-surface rock, ice, and fine samples will be accessed and studied on a range of spatial scales. Microscopy, mineralogy, and molecular/organic, elemental, and isotopic analyses are all needed to address in situ goals. These techniques must work as an efficient suite to provide complementary and cross-calibrated data. Toward such a suite, we are developing miniature time-of-flight mass spectrometers (TOF-MS) for microanalysis of minimally prepared samples. An adjustable-energy pulsed laser volatilizes and ionizes material from a small region on the sample. Ions enter the instrument and are detected at a sequence of times proportional to the square root of their mass-to-charge ratios. Thus, each laser pulse produces a complete mass spectrum (in less than 50 microseconds). These instruments can now be significantly miniaturized while maintaining high performance. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

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