NSF Award
9100426
This grant, supported by the Analytical and Surface Chemistry Program in the Chemistry Division, will study a highly sensitive and selective means for detecting and quantifying the chemical elements found in solid materials. A laser will vaporize a small portion of the solid, and then a second laser will selectively ionize one element of interest. Isotopic information will also be obtained. All work will be done by undergraduates under the direction of the principal investigator. %%% This research, supported by the Analytical and Surface Chemistry Program in the Chemistry Division, will study the fundamental physics and chemistry of Resonance Ionization Mass Spectrometry for elemental analysis. Condensation dynamics which have limited this technique's sensitivity will be investigated, as will mass transport from the vaporization region to the mass spectrometer. Quantification of elements and their isotopes in inclusions in solids should be improved by the success of this research.
