The Mars Science Laboratory APXS calibration target: Comparison of Martian measurements with the terrestrial calibration

J. L. Campbell; P. L. King; L. Burkemper; J. A. Berger; R. Gellert; N. I. Boyd; G. M. Perrett; I. Pradler; L. Thompson; K. S. Edgett; R. A. Yingst

doi:10.1016/j.nimb.2014.01.011

The Mars Science Laboratory APXS calibration target: Comparison of Martian measurements with the terrestrial calibration

J. L. Campbell^*, P. L. King, L. Burkemper, J. A. Berger, R. Gellert, N. I. Boyd, G. M. Perrett, I. Pradler, L. Thompson, K. S. Edgett, R. A. Yingst

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

27 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover carries a basalt calibration target for monitoring the performance of the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer. The spectrum acquired on Sol 34 shows increased contributions from Mg, S, Cl and Fe relative to laboratory spectra recorded before launch. Mars Hand Lens Imager images confirm changes in the appearance of the surface. Spectra taken on Sols 179 and 411 indicate some loss of the deposited material. The observations suggest deposition of a surface film likely consisting of dust mobilized by impingement of the sky crane's terminal descent engine plumes with surface fines during Curiosity's landing. New APXS software has been used to model the thin film that coated the calibration target on landing. The results suggest that a film of about 100 nm thickness, and containing predominantly MgO, Fe ₂O₃, SO₃, Cl and Na₂O could give rise to the observed spectral changes. If this film is also present on the alpha particle sources within the APXS, then its effect is negligible and the terrestrial calibration remains appropriate.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	49-58
Number of pages	10
Journal	Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms
Volume	323
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nimb.2014.01.011
Publication status	Published - 15 Mar 2014
Externally published	Yes

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Campbell, J. L., King, P. L., Burkemper, L., Berger, J. A., Gellert, R., Boyd, N. I., Perrett, G. M., Pradler, I., Thompson, L., Edgett, K. S., & Yingst, R. A. (2014). The Mars Science Laboratory APXS calibration target: Comparison of Martian measurements with the terrestrial calibration. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms, 323, 49-58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nimb.2014.01.011

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title = "The Mars Science Laboratory APXS calibration target: Comparison of Martian measurements with the terrestrial calibration",

abstract = "The Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover carries a basalt calibration target for monitoring the performance of the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer. The spectrum acquired on Sol 34 shows increased contributions from Mg, S, Cl and Fe relative to laboratory spectra recorded before launch. Mars Hand Lens Imager images confirm changes in the appearance of the surface. Spectra taken on Sols 179 and 411 indicate some loss of the deposited material. The observations suggest deposition of a surface film likely consisting of dust mobilized by impingement of the sky crane's terminal descent engine plumes with surface fines during Curiosity's landing. New APXS software has been used to model the thin film that coated the calibration target on landing. The results suggest that a film of about 100 nm thickness, and containing predominantly MgO, Fe 2O3, SO3, Cl and Na2O could give rise to the observed spectral changes. If this film is also present on the alpha particle sources within the APXS, then its effect is negligible and the terrestrial calibration remains appropriate.",

keywords = "Alpha particle X-ray spectrometer, Calibration, Mars Science Laboratory, PIXE, XRF",

author = "Campbell, {J. L.} and King, {P. L.} and L. Burkemper and Berger, {J. A.} and R. Gellert and Boyd, {N. I.} and Perrett, {G. M.} and I. Pradler and L. Thompson and Edgett, {K. S.} and Yingst, {R. A.}",

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Campbell, JL, King, PL, Burkemper, L, Berger, JA, Gellert, R, Boyd, NI, Perrett, GM, Pradler, I, Thompson, L, Edgett, KS & Yingst, RA 2014, 'The Mars Science Laboratory APXS calibration target: Comparison of Martian measurements with the terrestrial calibration', Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms, vol. 323, pp. 49-58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nimb.2014.01.011

The Mars Science Laboratory APXS calibration target: Comparison of Martian measurements with the terrestrial calibration. / Campbell, J. L.; King, P. L.; Burkemper, L. et al.
In: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms, Vol. 323, 15.03.2014, p. 49-58.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - The Mars Science Laboratory APXS calibration target

T2 - Comparison of Martian measurements with the terrestrial calibration

AU - Campbell, J. L.

AU - King, P. L.

AU - Burkemper, L.

AU - Berger, J. A.

AU - Gellert, R.

AU - Boyd, N. I.

AU - Perrett, G. M.

AU - Pradler, I.

AU - Thompson, L.

AU - Edgett, K. S.

AU - Yingst, R. A.

PY - 2014/3/15

Y1 - 2014/3/15

N2 - The Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover carries a basalt calibration target for monitoring the performance of the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer. The spectrum acquired on Sol 34 shows increased contributions from Mg, S, Cl and Fe relative to laboratory spectra recorded before launch. Mars Hand Lens Imager images confirm changes in the appearance of the surface. Spectra taken on Sols 179 and 411 indicate some loss of the deposited material. The observations suggest deposition of a surface film likely consisting of dust mobilized by impingement of the sky crane's terminal descent engine plumes with surface fines during Curiosity's landing. New APXS software has been used to model the thin film that coated the calibration target on landing. The results suggest that a film of about 100 nm thickness, and containing predominantly MgO, Fe 2O3, SO3, Cl and Na2O could give rise to the observed spectral changes. If this film is also present on the alpha particle sources within the APXS, then its effect is negligible and the terrestrial calibration remains appropriate.

AB - The Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover carries a basalt calibration target for monitoring the performance of the alpha particle X-ray spectrometer. The spectrum acquired on Sol 34 shows increased contributions from Mg, S, Cl and Fe relative to laboratory spectra recorded before launch. Mars Hand Lens Imager images confirm changes in the appearance of the surface. Spectra taken on Sols 179 and 411 indicate some loss of the deposited material. The observations suggest deposition of a surface film likely consisting of dust mobilized by impingement of the sky crane's terminal descent engine plumes with surface fines during Curiosity's landing. New APXS software has been used to model the thin film that coated the calibration target on landing. The results suggest that a film of about 100 nm thickness, and containing predominantly MgO, Fe 2O3, SO3, Cl and Na2O could give rise to the observed spectral changes. If this film is also present on the alpha particle sources within the APXS, then its effect is negligible and the terrestrial calibration remains appropriate.

KW - Alpha particle X-ray spectrometer

KW - Calibration

KW - Mars Science Laboratory

KW - PIXE

KW - XRF

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SP - 49

EP - 58

JO - Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms

JF - Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms

ER -

The Mars Science Laboratory APXS calibration target: Comparison of Martian measurements with the terrestrial calibration

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