The use of lasers as a source of excitation for surface mass spectroscopy has been investigated for some time. Since the laser can be focused to a small spot with intensity, it can vaporize and accelerate atoms of material. Using this phenomenon with a time-of-flight mass spectrometer allows a surface elemental mass analysis of a small region with each laser pulse. While the technique has been well developed for Earth applications, space applications are less developed. NASA Langley recently began a research program to investigate the use of a laser to create ions from the lunar surface and to analyze the ions at an orbiting spacecraft. A multijoule, Q-switched Nd:YAG laser would be focused to a small spot on the lunar surface, creating a dense plasma. This plasma would eject high-energy ions, as well as neutrals, electrons, and photons. An experiment is being set up to determine the characteristics of such a laser mass spectrometer at long flight distances. This experiment will determine the character of a future flight instrument for lunar resource assessment.
Remote Laser Mass Spectrometer for Lunar Resource Assessment
1992
2 pages
Report
No indication
English
Remote Assessment of Lunar Resource Potential
NTRS | 1992
|Lunar Orbital Mass Spectrometer Experiment
NTIS | 1971
|Lunar orbital mass spectrometer experiment
NTRS | 1972
|The Lunar Mass Spectrometer experiment.
NTRS | 1971
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