NASA plans to utilize laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) instrumentation on the next Mars Rover, PEWPEW.
Gizmodo has reported that NASA plans to utilize laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) instrumentation on the next Mars Rover, PEWPEW. Working from the theory: “The best way to figure out what something’s made of? Vaporize it, ” NASA plans to use a LIBS-based device called a ChemCam on the Mars Curiosity, launching next year.The system will sends an average of three 10-watt, five-nanosecond laser pulses per second in order to analyze rock samples on the red planet.
The laser shots vaporize a crater less than a millimeter across, turning its molecules into a 14, 000-degree plasma. The atoms are shorn of their electrons, but as the plasma ball cools down, they return to a more normal state. The electrons drop into their orbits around the nucleus and as they do so, the little plasma ball emits light. The spectra then emitted will tell scientists exactly what element they are looking at when passed through a spectrometer, which can precisely measure the wavelength of light.
Laser Ablation Molecular Isotopic Spectrometry: A New Dimension of LIBS
July 5th 2012Part of a new podcast series presented in collaboration with the Federation of Analytical Chemistry and Spectroscopy Societies (FACSS), in connection with SciX 2012 — the Great Scientific Exchange, the North American conference (39th Annual) of FACSS.
Best of the Week: The Future of Forensic Analysis, Next-Gen Mineral Identification
September 20th 2024Top articles published this week include a preview of our upcoming “The Future of Forensic Analysis” e-book, a few select offerings from “The Future of Forensic Analysis,” and a news story about next-generation mineral identification.
Next-Gen Mineral Identification: Fusing LIBS and Raman Spectroscopy with Machine Learning
September 17th 2024A pioneering study integrates laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) with Raman spectroscopy (RS) and applies machine learning (ML) to achieve exceptional accuracy in mineral identification. The combined approach not only leverages the strengths of both techniques but also enhances classification precision, achieving up to 98.4% accuracy.
Compact LIBS Sensor Modernizes Crime Scene Forensics
September 16th 2024Researchers have developed a cutting-edge, portable LIBS sensor designed for crime scene investigations, offering both handheld and tabletop modes. This device enables on-the-spot analysis of forensic samples with unprecedented sensitivity and depth, potentially transforming forensic science.