Hypervelocity microparticle impact studies using a novel cosmic dust mass spectrometer
Abstract
Micron-sized iron and copper particles accelerated to 2–20 km/s in a 2 MV van de Graaff electrostatic accelerator were used to test the performance of our recently developed cosmic dust mass spectrometer. This compact in situ dust analyzer, known as the Dustbuster, is designed to determine the elemental composition of cosmic dust particles through impact ionization and subsequent time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Results from 750 laboratory impacts show high mass resolution, typically 150–350 (m/Δm) for projectile components and 300–600 for the target material (tantalum). Peaks corresponding to H, C, O, Na, and K ions are also observed, consistent with previous microparticle impact experiments. Field-induced emission of electrons immediately before impact is a possible cause of ion formation from species with high ionization potentials. The high mass resolution, large sensitive target area, and small size make the Dustbuster an ideal instrument for inclusion on a spacecraft payload.
Additional Information
© 2003 by the American Geophysical Union. Received 5 June 2002; revised 27 February 2003; accepted 11 March 2003; published 14 May 2003. The authors thank NASA's Planetary Instrument Definition and Development Program (PIDDP) for financial support. Additional financial support for the early stages of this research came from the Beckman Institute at Caltech. Contribution 8870, Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125.Attached Files
Published - jgre1623.pdf
Supplemental Material - jgre1623-sup-0001tab01.txt
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Additional details
- Eprint ID
- 50670
- Resolver ID
- CaltechAUTHORS:20141022-085618121
- NASA
- Caltech Beckman Institute
- Created
-
2014-10-22Created from EPrint's datestamp field
- Updated
-
2021-11-10Created from EPrint's last_modified field
- Other Numbering System Name
- Caltech Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences
- Other Numbering System Identifier
- 8870