Physics
Scientific paper
Dec 2009
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009agufm.p43d1473w&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2009, abstract #P43D-1473
Physics
[5494] Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets / Instruments And Techniques, [6225] Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects / Mars
Scientific paper
The ChemCam instrument suite is being built for remote sensing analyses on the “Curiosity” Mars Science Laboratory rover to be launched in 2011. ChemCam consists of the first flight laser-induced breakdown spectrometer (LIBS) and a remote micro-imager (RMI) to provide context images of the LIBS analysis locations. The LIBS instrument focuses ~15 mJ laser pulses onto analysis spots < 0.5 mm in diameter within 7 m of the rover to produce light-emitting plasma consisting primarily of characteristic emission lines from the materials ablated from the surface, providing elemental compositions of the samples. Multiple laser pulses can remove surface dust and probe weathering layers as well as obtain the composition of the underlying rock. The analyses are rapid, low power, and provide light element compositions including hydrogen and carbon as well as the heavier elements. The RMI imager can resolve 200 µm details at a distance of 2 m, or 1 mm at 10 m. The instrument suite is due to be delivered to JPL in 2010. Activities in the fall of 2009 include replacement of the original flight detectors, which were found to be non-linear at low count rates. Re-assembly of the optical demultiplexer is also taking place to fix a problem with optical transmission found during a shock test. The spectrometers will be mated with the thermal-electric cooler prior to final thermal and vibration tests. Initial calibrations in the fall of 2008 were done with LIBS standards in a Mars chamber at 1.5, 3.5, 5.5, and 7 m distance. The analysis set consisted of more than sixty pressed rock powder standards of basalt, andesite, rhyolite, dacite, sulfate, carbonate, and stream and marine sediment compositions. In spite of the detector nonlinearity the resulting data set has been used to develop and test the LIBS ground data software. Multivariate analysis techniques including independent component analysis (ICA) and partial least squares (PLS) are being used, the former for qualitative rock type determination and the latter for quantitative elemental compositions.
Clegg Samuel M.
Maurice Sylestre
Wiens Roger C.
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