Grimaudo, V.

Lukmanov, R.

López, A.C.

Riedo, A.

Tulej, M.

Wiesendanger, R.

Wurz, P.

Leiden University Scholary Publications

Geophysical Research AbstractsVol. 21, EGU2019-10944, 2019EGU General Assembly 2019© Author(s) 2019. CC Attribution 4.0 license.Capabilities of a space-born laser mass spectrometer for detection ofplanetary microsized-fossilsMarek Tulej (1), Rustam Lukmanov (1), Reto Wiesendanger (1), Valentine Grimaudo (1), Alena Cedeño López(2), Andreas Riedo (1,3), and Peter Wurz (1)(1) University Bern, Physics Institute, Bern, Switzerland , (2) Departement of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freiestrasse 3,CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland, (3) Sackler Laboratory for Astrophysics, Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, Leiden, TheNetherlandsIn this contribution we will discuss the recent progress made in the development of a miniature laser abla-tion/ionisation mass spectrometer combined with a microscope-camera system for the investigation of micro-sizedobjects including e.g., ancient microfossil life forms. The instrument suit offers 3D optical diagnostics combinedwith 3D chemical analysis capabilities. The 3D optical imaging is conducted by the image stacking method withthe lateral and vertical resolution down to a few micrometre allowing identification of micro-sized grains andputative fossils by means of the morphological and textural details. Supported by the 3D-optical identification ofthe objects in the host rocks, precise laser beam positioning and focusing can be achieved and following chemicalanalyses using the mass spectrometer. The performance of the instrument suit is tested on the micro-sizedobjects identified in rocks within the carbonate (aragonite, calcite) veins and in silica chert. The 3D-chemicalanalysis is achieved by combining the lateral chemical imaging and a depth profiling method. The latter analysisinvolves a layer-by-layer chemical measurements. This is in particularly important when highly heterogeneousmaterials are investigated allowing the identification of grains and layering within sample subsurface. High levelof the micro-sized object material isolation from the host material can be achieved this way, providing a typicalablation layer thickness of 10 to 100 nanometres with a lateral resolution of the laser spot size of about 10micrometres. This method has also the advantages in the quantitative isotope analyses of highly heterogeneousor layered samples offering possibilities to isolate elements/isotopes embedded in isolating layers and improvingthe signal-to-noise ratio and the measurements sensitivity. We demonstrate the application of this method to thequantitative measurements of isotopes in micro-sized objects and discuss currently obtained performance figures.LiteratureGrimaudo V, Moreno-Garcia P, Riedo A, Meyer S, Tulej M, Neuland MB, Mohos M, Gutz C, Waldvogek SR,Wurz P and others (2017), Anal. Chem., 89, 1632-1641.Grimaudo V, Moreno-Garcia P, Riedo A, Neuland MB, Tulej M, Broekmann P, and Wurz P (2015), Anal. Chem.,87, 2037-2041.Neubeck A, Tulej M, Ivarsson M, Broman C, Riedo A, McMahon S, Wurz P, and Bengtson S. (2016), Int. J.Astrobiol., 15, 133-146.Neuland MB, Meyer S, Mezger K, Riedo A, Tulej M, and Wurz P (2014), PSS, 101, 196-209.Riedo A, Neuland M, Meyer S, Tulej M, and Wurz P. (2013), J. Anal. Atom. Spectrom., 28, 1256-1269.Rohner U, Whitby JA, and Wurz P (2003) , Meas. Sci. Tech., 14, 2159-2164.Tulej M, Neubeck A, Ivarsson M, Riedo A, Neuland MB, Meyer S, and Wurz P (2015), Astrobiology, 15,669-682.Wiesendanger R, Tulej M, Grimaudo V, Lopez AC, Lukmanov R, Riedo A, and Wurz P (2018), Journal ofChemometrics, doi: 10.1002/cem.3081.Wiesendanger R, Wacey D, Tulej M, Neubeck A, Ivarsson M, Grimaudo V, Moreno-Garcia P, Cedeno-Lopez A,Riedo A, and Wurz P. (2018), Astrobiology, 18, 1071-1080.

Capabilities of a space-born laser mass spectrometer for detection of planetary microsized-fossils

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Capabilities of a space-born laser mass spectrometer for detection of planetary microsized-fossils

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