Measuring methane and its isotopes 12CH4, 13CH4, and CH3D on the surface of Mars with in situ laser spectroscopy

Physics – Optics

Scientific paper

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Scientific paper

In light of the recent discovery of methane on Mars and its possible biological origin, a strategy is described for making in situ measurements of methane and its isotopes on the surface of Mars by laser spectroscopy in the 3.3-µm wavelength region. An instrument of reasonable mass (~1 lb) and power (few watts) is capable of measuring mixing ratios down to 0.1 part per 10^9 by volume, a hundred times lower than recently reported observations. Making accurate measurements of 13CH4 and CH3D will be more difficult. For measuring delta13C to 10 per mille and delta D to 50 per mille, sample preconcentration will be required to ~3 parts per 10^6 by volume for delta13C and to ~40 parts per 10^6 by volume for delta D. This need would be mitigated by the discovery of larger local abundances of methane near the source regions.

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