Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has signi7cant potential for remote terrestrial and extraterrestrial applications, nonetheless a number of correlated problems are still to be properly understood and possibly solved. This study focuses on several samples of terrestrial provenience, mostly volcanic rocks, which have importance as analogue to expected Martian samples. They were analysed after vaporisation with a frequency tripled Nd:YAG laser emitting at 355 nm, and measurements were made in an environment similar to the Martian one. Quantitative data were obtained by adopting the calibration free LIBS approach. A comparison with SEM-EDX data from the same samples is reported. Present results on Mars rocks analogues suggest that, in spite of residual interpretative ambiguities, LIBS technique permits elemental qualitative identi7cation and quantitative analysis on silicate minerals examined in a rarefied atmosphere.
Investigation of LIBS feasibility for in situ planetary exploration: An analysis on Martian rock analogues
ORI, Gian Gabriele;MARINANGELI, Lucia;BALIVA, Antonio
2004-01-01
Abstract
Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has signi7cant potential for remote terrestrial and extraterrestrial applications, nonetheless a number of correlated problems are still to be properly understood and possibly solved. This study focuses on several samples of terrestrial provenience, mostly volcanic rocks, which have importance as analogue to expected Martian samples. They were analysed after vaporisation with a frequency tripled Nd:YAG laser emitting at 355 nm, and measurements were made in an environment similar to the Martian one. Quantitative data were obtained by adopting the calibration free LIBS approach. A comparison with SEM-EDX data from the same samples is reported. Present results on Mars rocks analogues suggest that, in spite of residual interpretative ambiguities, LIBS technique permits elemental qualitative identi7cation and quantitative analysis on silicate minerals examined in a rarefied atmosphere.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
