Publication Date:
2019-07-13
Description:
Since the Viking Program, quadrupole mass spectrometer (QMS) instruments have been used to explore a wide survey of planetary targets in our solar system, including (from the inner to outer reaches): Venus (Pioneer); our moon (LADEE); Mars (Viking, Phoenix, and Mars Science Laboratory); and, Saturns largest moon Titan (Cassini-Huygens). More recently, however, ion trap mass spectrometer (ITMS) instruments have found a niche as smaller, versatile alternatives to traditional quadrupole mass analyzers, capable of in situ characterization of planetary environments and the search for organic matter. For example, whereas typical QMS systems are limited to a mass range up to 500 Da and normally require multiple RF frequencies and pressures of less than 10(exp -6) mbar for optimal operation, ITMS instruments commonly reach upwards of 1000 Da or more on a single RF frequency, and function in higher pressure environments up to 10(exp -3) mbar.
Keywords:
Lunar and Planetary Science and Exploration
Type:
GSFC-E-DAA-TN18368
,
International Workshop on Instrumentation for Planetary Missions (IPM-2014); Nov 04, 2014 - Nov 07, 2014; Greenbelt, MD; United States
Format:
application/pdf
