An analysis of a continuum X-ray Diffraction/Fluorescence instrument
Name
1028748970-MIT.pdf
Description
Full printable version
Size
5.2 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
1e184662c253b3e3c8bfcc14281d4170
Author(s)
Murphy, Caitlin Anne
Advisor(s)
Sang-Heon Shim.
Date Issued
2007
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
Scientists at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center have developed a Combined X-ray Diffraction/Fluorescence (CXRDF) instrument. CXRDF performs simultaneous chemical and structural analysis of an unprepared sample, making it ideal for planetary mineral identification. In an effort to analyze the effectiveness of CXRDF, samples were chosen from a list of minerals that are important in the debate about the origin of the outcrops at Meridiani Planum on Mars. These samples were run on both CXRDF and a laboratory X-ray diffractometer. The datasets were compared, looking at peak identification, d-spacing resolution, and whether the instruments could definitively identify each sample. CXRDF successfully measured the d-spacings for each mineral, and the chemical analysis data were very valuable. However, for CXRDF to be able to definitively identify minerals, its d-spacing range and resolution will need to be improved, in addition to its data analysis software.
Description
Thesis: S.B., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, 2007.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 40-41).
Subjects
Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
Terms of Use
MIT theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed, downloaded, or printed from this source but further reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission.
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