Physics
Scientific paper
Dec 2008
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2008agufm.p11a1252y&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2008, abstract #P11A-1252
Physics
5405 Atmospheres (0343, 1060), 5421 Interactions With Particles And Fields, 5435 Ionospheres (2459), 5494 Instruments And Techniques
Scientific paper
Measurement of the bulk composition and isotopic fractionation of planetary atmospheres yields essential information about their origin, evolution and eventual loss. In particular, measurements from below the homopause out through the exosphere to the solar wind (e.g., at Mars and Venus) or to a planetary magnetosphere (e.g., at Titan) are essential to understanding processes driving atmospheric evolution and loss. Over the past three years we have developed and tested prototypes of two types of time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometers capable of the comprehensive measurements needed to settle questions of atmospheric evolution and loss. The first is the Ion Neutral Mass Spectrometer (INMS) which uses electrostatic mirrors to artificially lengthen and focus ion flight times, allowing the spectrometer to reach mass resolution needed to separate key compounds such as N2 and CO or isotopologues such as 13C17O16O vs. 12C18O16O (dM = 0.0033 amu). In order to boost sensitivity and signal to noise the INMS is also capable of storing and concentrating gases for prolonged analysis. The INMS prototype has demonstrated mass resolution > 15,000 M/dM and sensitivity for noble gas isotopes at 1 part per billion. The second spectrometer is the hot plasma composition analyzer (HPCA), a carbon-foil based instrument with heritage from the CAPS Cassini Ion Mass Spectrometer but with significantly improved mass resolution and sensitivity. The HPCA is designed to measure ion fluxes impinging on and escaping from planetary atmospheres. Together the INMS and HPCA cover the broad range of ion species and velocity space needed for investigation of planetary atmospheres and ionospheres and their interactions with the space environment.
Brockwell T. G.
Burch James. L.
de Los Santos A.
Go'mez Roberto
Grimes John
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