A neutral gas mass spectrometer to measure the chemical composition of the stratosphere

Abplanalp, D.; Würz, Peter; Huber, L.; Leya, I.; Kopp, E.; Rohner, Urs; Wieser, Martin; Kalla, Leif; Barabash, S.

doi:10.1016/j.asr.2009.06.016

Cited by 30 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 3 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The results presented in Section on Data Analysis Results and Discussion are obtained with the NIM prototype instrument. NIM is a TOF instrument with heritage from the RTOF instrument of the ROSINA experiment on the Rosetta mission and the Polar Balloon Atmospheric Composition Experiment instrument . NIM is designed to operate in three different modes: thermal mode, neutral mode and ion mode.…”

Section: Experimental Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…NIM is a TOF instrument with heritage from the RTOF instrument of the ROSINA experiment on the Rosetta mission [11,12] and the Polar Balloon Atmospheric Composition Experiment instrument. [23] NIM is designed to operate in three different modes: thermal mode, neutral mode and ion mode. In neutral mode, the ambient gas enters the ionisation region of the ion source directly (open source); in thermal mode, the ambient gas enters through an antechamber (equilibrium sphere) where the gas is thermally accommodated with the chamber wall before it proceeds to the ionisation region of the ion source (closed source).…”

Section: Nim Prototype Instrumentmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Fully automatic and precise data analysis developed for time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Scientific objectives of current and future space missions are focused on the investigation of the origin and evolution of the solar system with the particular emphasis on habitability and signatures of past and present life. For in situ measurements of the chemical composition of solid samples on planetary surfaces, the neutral atmospheric gas and the thermal plasma of planetary atmospheres, the application of mass spectrometers making use of time-of-flight mass analysers is a technique widely used. However, such investigations imply measurements with good statistics and, thus, a large amount of data to be analysed. Therefore, faster and especially robust automated data analysis with enhanced accuracy is required. In this contribution, an automatic data analysis software, which allows fast and precise quantitative data analysis of time-of-flight mass spectrometric data, is presented and discussed in detail. A crucial part of this software is a robust and fast peak finding algorithm with a consecutive numerical integration method allowing precise data analysis. We tested our analysis software with data from different time-of-flight mass spectrometers and different measurement campaigns thereof. The quantitative analysis of isotopes, using automatic data analysis, yields results with an accuracy of isotope ratios up to 100 ppm for a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 10 . We show that the accuracy of isotope ratios is in fact proportional to SNR . Furthermore, we observe that the accuracy of isotope ratios is inversely proportional to the mass resolution. Additionally, we show that the accuracy of isotope ratios is depending on the sample width T by T . Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

show abstract

Section: Experimental Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Nim Prototype Instrumentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fully automatic and precise data analysis developed for time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The INMS is a time-of-flight instrument (TOF) [24], which allows for recording a full mass spectrum at once. Typically, 10,000 mass spectra are recorded each second, and accumulated for 5 seconds.…”

Section: Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer/ Plasma Ion Analyzer Packamentioning

confidence: 99%

Io Volcano Observer's (IVO) integrated approach to optimizing system design for radiation challenges

Adams

Hibbard

Turtle

et al. 2012

2012 IEEE Aerospace Conference

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

One of the major challenges for a mission to the Jovian system is the radiation tolerance of the spacecraft (S/C) and the payload. Moreover, being able to achieve science observations with high signal to noise ratios (SNR), while passing through the high flux radiation zones, requires additional ingenuity on the part of the instrument provider. Consequently, the radiation mitigation is closely intertwined with the payload, spacecraft and trajectory design, and requires a systems-level approach. This paper presents a design for the Io Volcano Observer (IVO), a Discovery mission concept that makes multiple close encounters with Io while orbiting Jupiter. The mission aims to answer key outstanding questions about Io, especially the nature of its intense active volcanism and the internal processes that drive it. The payload includes narrow-angle and wide-angle cameras (NAC and WAC), dual fluxgate magnetometers (FGM), a thermal mapper (ThM), dual ion and neutral mass spectrometers (INMS), and dual plasma ion analyzers (PIA). The radiation mitigation is implemented by drawing upon experiences from designs and studies for missions such as the Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP) and Jupiter Europa Orbiter (JEO). At the core of the radiation mitigation is IVO's inclined and highly elliptical orbit, which leads to rapid passes through the most intense radiation near Io, minimizing the total ionizing dose (177 krads behind 100 mils of Aluminum with radiation design margin (RDM) of 2 after 7 encounters). The payload and the spacecraft are designed specifically to accommodate the fast flyby velocities (e.g. the spacecraft is radioisotope powered, remaining small and agile without any flexible appendages). The science instruments, which collect the majority of the highpriority data when close to Io and thus near the peak flux, also have to mitigate transient noise in their detectors. The cameras use a combination of shielding and CMOS detectors with extremely fast readout to minimize noise. INMS microchannel plate detectors and PIA channel electron multipliers require additional shielding. The FGM is not sensitive to noise induced by energetic particles and the ThM microbolometer detector is nearly insensitive. Detailed SNR calculations are presented. To facilitate targeting agility, all of the spacecraft components are shielded separately since this approach is more mass efficient than using a radiation vault. IVO uses proven radiationhardened parts (rated at 100 krad behind equivalent shielding of 280 mils of Aluminum with RDM of 2) and is expected to have ample mass margin to increase shielding if needed.

show abstract

“…It enables studies with mass resolution up to few thousandths, and detection sensitivities better than ∼ppm g/g [15]. Further reduction of the size and weight by factor of ∼4 could be recently achieved [16]. Several miniaturised TOF mass analysers have been also developed for carrying out the chemical analysis of solids [13,14,17] with the LAZMA instrument [18] being part of a payload accepted for missions to Phobos (PHOBOS GROUND) and our Moon (LUNA RESOURCE, LUNA GLOB) [17][18][19][20].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On Applicability of a Miniaturised Laser Ablation Time of Flight Mass Spectrometer for Trace Elements Measurements

Tulej

Riedo

Iakovleva

et al. 2012

International Journal of Spectroscopy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We present results from mass spectrometric analysis of NIST standard materials and meteoritic samples conducted by a miniaturised laser ablation mass spectrometer designed for space research. The mass analyser supports investigation with a mass resolution (m/Δm) ≈ 500-600 and dynamic range within seven decades. Nevertheless, to maintain an optimal spectral quality laser irradiances lower than ∼1 GW/cm 2 are applied so far which results in a spread of RSC values. To achieve the quantitative performance of mass analyser, various effects influencing RSC factors have to be investigated. In this paper we investigate influence of laser irradiance, sampling procedure and plasma chemistry on the quantitative elemental and isotopic analysis. The studies indicate necessity for accurate control of laser characteristics and acquisition procedure. A relatively low irradiance applied causes a negligible sample damage and allows for accumulation of large number of waveforms from one sample location. The procedure yields statistically well averaged data and allows a sensitive in-depth analysis. The quantitative analyses of isotopic composition can be performed with accuracy and precision better as 1% and 2%, for isotopic patterns of elements and clusters, respectively. The numerical integration methods would be preferred to achieve more accurate results. The measurements of Allende sample yield detection of Pb isotopic pattern, nevertheless cluster species are readily observed in spectrum and make the elemental analysis of other trace elements difficult due to isobaric interferences. These detections are of a considerable interest because of possible application of the instrument for in situ elemental and isotopic analysis and radiometric dating of solids.

show abstract

A neutral gas mass spectrometer to measure the chemical composition of the stratosphere

Cited by 30 publications

References 3 publications

Fully automatic and precise data analysis developed for time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry

Fully automatic and precise data analysis developed for time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry

Io Volcano Observer's (IVO) integrated approach to optimizing system design for radiation challenges

On Applicability of a Miniaturised Laser Ablation Time of Flight Mass Spectrometer for Trace Elements Measurements

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About