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Planetary and small body lander missions continue to seek instrumentation that comprehensively characterize the composition of the planetary surface and/or near-subsurface materials. Laser Mass Spectrometry (LMS), advanced at Goddard over the years, is typically utilized to identify and characterize trace amounts of astrobiologically relevant organic content in the acquired samples, however its ability to provide geological context by identifying the composition of the inorganic fraction is generally limited. In this follow-on Early Stage Innovation, we propose a femtosecond laser to advance the capabilities of laser mass spectrometers, particularly for enhanced specificity to mineralogical rock composition and explore the potential of LMS for age dating rock samples on future planetary science missions. An ultrafast, high repetition rate electron-impact ionization source has the potential to not only enhance mass resolution by an order of magnitude, but also reduce analysis times by increasing, both, the ionization yield and repetition rate. In FY19, we successfully integrated and used a commercial femtosecond (fs) laser to perform time-of-flight (TOF) LMS measurements and analysis to refine the laser requirements for both LMS and fs TOF-mass spectrometry. Initial TOF analysis showed a significant improvement in instrument resolution and sensitivity compared to nanosecond lasers and helped to refine our instrument requirements. Our FY20 workplan focuses on optimization of the fs laser design selected in FY19 and performance demonstration through integration of the fs breadboard laser with the TOF-MS for testing. The FY20 objectives are summarized in three tasks below: Task 1 – Refine and test the fiber fs laser breadboard at 1030 nm. Task 2 – Frequency quadruple the fiber fs laser fundamental output and demonstrate performance at 257 nm. Task 3 – Integrate the fs laser breadboard with our existing mass spectrometer and demonstrate performance: design optical setup for integration and testing of the fs laser breadboard with the mass spectrometer, procure optical parts, integrate and test to demonstrate performance of the system.
Laser Desorption Mass Spectrometer (LDMS) and Laser Ablation Mass Spectrometry (LAMS) for in-situ planetary instruments; Leap frog technology development for orbiting and small body instruments; Detailed atmospheric composition analysis from a compact device on airless bodies, Mars, or ocean worlds (Titan, Enceladus, Europa); Instruments for ion traps and Orbitraps
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