A combined Raman/laser ablation mass spectrometer instrument for exploration of small solar system objects

2007 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 477-481 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Wüest ◽  
G.G. Managadze ◽  
N.G. Managadze
Keyword(s):  
Laser Ablation ◽  
Solar System ◽  
Mass Spectrometer ◽  
Raman Laser ◽  
Solar System Objects

scholarly journals Detection of sulphuric life in Mars analogue material using a miniature LIMS system

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Riedo ◽  
Valentine Grimaudo ◽  
Joost W. Aerts ◽  
Alena Cedeño López ◽  
Marek Tulej ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Laser Ablation ◽  
Solar System ◽  
Mass Spectrometer ◽  
Isotope Composition ◽  
Ion Source ◽  
Ionization Mass ◽  
Geochemical Processes ◽  
Ionization Source ◽  
Measurement Protocol

<p>In situ identification of life signatures on Solar System bodies other than Earth is extremely challenging and demands for sophisticated and sensitive instrumentation for their detection. Life signatures can be grouped into six different categories, ranging from biomolecules (e.g., lipids and amino acids), to microstructures (such as microfossils) [1]. Sulphur fractionated element isotopes belong to another important category and are of high interest to current astrobiology. In this contribution, we report on a novel measurement protocol, which is dedicated to measure accurately fractionated sulphur isotopes in different Mars analogue materials with an accuracy at the <sup>34</sup>δ level using our miniature and sensitive Laser Ablation Ionisation Mass Spectrometer (LIMS) that was designed for space exploration missions.</p><p>The applied LIMS instrument in this study consists of a miniature reflectron-type time-of-flight mass analyser (160 mm x Ø 60 mm) and a femtosecond laser system (λ = 775 nm, τ ~190 fs) used as ablation and ionization source [2-3]. By means of irradiance studies performed on the Mars analogues, optimal measurement conditions could be elaborated, which allowed to measure sulphur fractionation with an accuracy at the <sup>34</sup>δ level.</p><p>All measurements presented here were conducted on five very different Mars analogues that were collected at different extreme field sites on Earth, including Rio Tinto in Spain and Movile and Sulphur caves in Romania. The analogues differ strongly in their total sulphur weight abundance, which range from ~5 to ~95 %, and in their fractionation degree of sulphur (<sup>34</sup>δ from about +8 to -7). In comparison to the state-of-the-art sulphur isotope measurements the LIMS measurements showed an accuracy of ~1.5 <sup>34</sup>δ. The measurement protocol is simple and sufficiently accurate for in situ application. It will provide valuable information of e.g., geochemical processes occurred on Solar System body surfaces, and will enable the identification of sulphuric-based life in case the fractionation is above fractionation induced by geochemical processes.</p><p>References</p><p>1) E. Hays, H.V. Graham, D.J. Des Marais, E.M. Hausrath, B. Horgan, T.M. McCollom, M. Niki Parenteau, S.L. Potter-McIntyre, A.J. Williams and K.L. Lynch, "Biosignature Preservation and Detection in Mars Analog Environments", Astrobiol., 17, 2017, 363 – 400.</p><p>2) Riedo, M. Neuland, S. Meyer, M. Tulej and P. Wurz, "Coupling of LMS with a fs-laser ablation ion source: elemental and isotope composition measurements", J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 28, 2013, 1256 – 1269.</p><p>3) Tulej, A. Neubeck, M. Ivarsson, A. Riedo, M.B. Neuland, S. Meyer and P. Wurz, "Chemical composition of micrometer-sized filaments in an aragonite host by a miniature laser ablation/ionization mass spectrometer", Astrobiol., 15, 2015, 669 - 682.</p>

scholarly journals Astrometry of the solar system: the ground-based observations

2007 ◽  
Vol 3 (S248) ◽  
pp. 66-73
Author(s):  
J.-E. Arlot
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Space Missions ◽  
Physical Characteristics ◽  
Physical Parameters ◽  
Dynamical Models ◽  
Long Period ◽  
Solar System Objects ◽  
Different Characteristics

AbstractThe main goal of the astrometry of solar system objects is to build dynamical models of their motions to understand their evolution, to determine physical parameters and to build accurate ephemerides for the preparation and the exploitation of space missions. For many objects, the ground-based observations are still very important because radar or observations from space probes are not available. More, the need of observations on a long period of time makes the ground-based observations necessary. The solar system objects have very different characteristics and the increase of the astrometric accuracy will depend on the objects and on their physical characteristics. The purpose of this communication is to show how to get the best astrometric accuracy.

scholarly journals Direct Chemical Analysis of Solids by Laser Ablation in an Ion Storage Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer

2004 ◽  
Vol 76 (5) ◽  
pp. 1249-1256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory L. Klunder ◽  
Patrick M. Grant ◽  
Brian D. Andresen ◽  
Richard E. Russo
Keyword(s):  
Laser Ablation ◽  
Chemical Analysis ◽  
Mass Spectrometer ◽  
Storage Time ◽  
Time Of Flight ◽  
Flight Mass Spectrometer ◽  
Ion Storage

scholarly journals Laser ablation aerosol particle time-of-flight mass spectrometer (LAAPTOF): performance, reference spectra and classification of atmospheric samples

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 2325-2343 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoli Shen ◽  
Ramakrishna Ramisetty ◽  
Claudia Mohr ◽  
Wei Huang ◽  
Thomas Leisner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Laser Ablation ◽  
Aerosol Particle ◽  
Mass Spectrometer ◽  
Size Range ◽  
Aerosol Particles ◽  
Time Of Flight ◽  
Polystyrene Latex ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Flight Mass Spectrometer

Abstract. The laser ablation aerosol particle time-of-flight mass spectrometer (LAAPTOF, AeroMegt GmbH) is able to identify the chemical composition and mixing state of individual aerosol particles, and thus is a tool for elucidating their impacts on human health, visibility, ecosystem, and climate. The overall detection efficiency (ODE) of the instrument we use was determined to range from  ∼  (0.01 ± 0.01) to  ∼  (4.23 ± 2.36) % for polystyrene latex (PSL) in the size range of 200 to 2000 nm,  ∼  (0.44 ± 0.19) to  ∼  (6.57 ± 2.38) % for ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3), and  ∼  (0.14 ± 0.02) to  ∼  (1.46 ± 0.08) % for sodium chloride (NaCl) particles in the size range of 300 to 1000 nm. Reference mass spectra of 32 different particle types relevant for atmospheric aerosol (e.g. pure compounds NH4NO3, K2SO4, NaCl, oxalic acid, pinic acid, and pinonic acid; internal mixtures of e.g. salts, secondary organic aerosol, and metallic core–organic shell particles; more complex particles such as soot and dust particles) were determined. Our results show that internally mixed aerosol particles can result in spectra with new clusters of ions, rather than simply a combination of the spectra from the single components. An exemplary 1-day ambient data set was analysed by both classical fuzzy clustering and a reference-spectra-based classification method. Resulting identified particle types were generally well correlated. We show how a combination of both methods can greatly improve the interpretation of single-particle data in field measurements.

Improved detection sensitivity for heavy trace elements using a miniature laser ablation ionisation mass spectrometer

2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (11) ◽  
pp. 2182-2188 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Wiesendanger ◽  
M. Tulej ◽  
A. Riedo ◽  
S. Frey ◽  
H. Shea ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Trace Elements ◽  
Laser Ablation ◽  
Mass Spectrometer ◽  
Detection Sensitivity ◽  
Laser Spectrometer ◽  
Lunar Meteorite ◽  
Ionisation Mass ◽  
Ionisation Mass Spectrometer

Detecting heavy trace elements with a miniature laser spectrometer on a lunar meteorite.

scholarly journals A Photometric Study of Regolith Intimate Mixing with Ice-Like Impurity

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dwaipayan Deb ◽  
Pavan Chakraborty
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Linear Trend ◽  
Geological Processes ◽  
Solar System Objects ◽  
Shadowing Effect ◽  
Mixing Proportion ◽  
In Situ Observations ◽  
End Members ◽  
Reflectance Data

Abstract Surfaces of solid solar system objects are covered by layers of particulate materials called regolith originated from their surface bedrock. They preserve important information about surface geological processes. Often regolith is composed of more than one type of particle in terms of composition, maturity, size, etc. Experiments and theoretical works are being carried out to constrain the result of mixing and extract the abundance of compositional end-members from regolith spectra. In this work we have studied, photometric light scattering from simulated surfaces made of two different materials – one is highly bright quartz particles ≈ 80µm and the other moderately bright sandstone particles ≈ 250µm. The samples were mixed with varying proportions and investigated at normal illumination conditions to avoid the shadowing effect. Said combinations may resemble ice mixed regolith on various solar system objects and therefore important for in situ observations. We find that the combinations show a linear trend in the corresponding reflectance data in terms of their mixing proportion and some interesting facts come out when compared to previous studies.

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