Rocks analysis at stand off distance by LIBS in Martian conditions
- Roger C.
- David A.
- Jean Luc
- Beatrice
- Pascal
- Evelyne
- Cecile
- Sylvestre
The research project called MALIS (Mars Analysis by Laser-Induced breakdown Spectroscopy) aims at producing a LIBS facility allowing rocks and soils analysis on Mars at stand off distance up to 10 or ideally 20 m. The capability of LIBS to perform a sample analysis at different distances was previously shown. Basically, the LIBS technique uses a pulsed laser beam focused on a sample surface. With sufficient power, the laser ablates the material, producing atoms and ions in an excited state, resulting in a visible spark. This one is characteristic of the elements present in the material. Light emission recording allows the qualitative and the quantitative elemental analysis. Up to now the technique needs a pre calibration in order to obtain quantitative data. But some works indicated that even with a lack of calibration quantitative results can be obtained. Our previous works studied different parameters (laser energy, atmospheric pressure, ...) that are of importance (laser energy, atmospheric pressure, ...) to control the quality of the measurements in Martian conditions. With those optimized parameters, some analytical results were obtained and will be presented.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE
- OSTI ID:
- 977409
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-04-0313; LA-UR-04-313
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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