A miniature laser ablation time-of-flight mass spectrometer for in situ planetary exploration

Details A miniature laser ablation time-of-flight mass spectrometer for in situ planetary exploration A miniature laser ablation time-of-flight mass spectrometer for in situ planetary exploration

Dec 2003

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2003mesct..14.2159r&link_type=abstract

Measurement Science and Technology, Volume 14, Issue 12, pp. 2159-2164 (2003).

Computer Science

8

Scientific paper

We report the development and testing of a miniature mass spectrometer and ion source intended to be deployed on an airless planetary surface to measure the elemental and isotopic composition of rocks and soils. Our design concentrates at this stage on the proposed BepiColombo mission to the planet Mercury. The mass analyser is an axially symmetric reflectron time-of-flight design. The ion source utilizes a laser induced plasma, which is directly coupled into the mass analyser. Laser ablation gives high spatial resolution, and avoids the need for sample preparation.
Our prototype instrument has a demonstrated mass resolution m/Dgrm (FWHM) in excess of 600 and a predicted dynamic range of better than four orders of magnitude. Isotopic fractionation effects are found to be minor. We estimate that a flight instrument would have a mass of 500 g (including all electronics), a volume of 650 cm3 and could operate on 3 W power.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

A miniature laser ablation time-of-flight mass spectrometer for in situ planetary exploration does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with A miniature laser ablation time-of-flight mass spectrometer for in situ planetary exploration, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and A miniature laser ablation time-of-flight mass spectrometer for in situ planetary exploration will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-883725