Ion trap mass spectrometry on a comet nucleus: the Ptolemy instrument and the Rosetta space mission.
In May 2014, the Rosetta spacecraft is scheduled to rendezvous with the comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko ('67P'). One of the instruments on board the 'Lander' which will descend on to the surface of the comet is a miniaturised GC/MS system that incorporates an ion trap mass spectrometer, specially developed for isotope ratio analysis. This article describes the development and optimisation of the ion trap for this unique application, and presents a summary of the range of pre-programmed experiments that will contribute to the characterisation of the solid and volatile cometary materials.
Todd
John F J
JF
School of Physical Sciences, Ingram Building, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NH, UK. J.F.J.Todd@kent.ac.uk
Barber
Simeon J
SJ
Wright
Ian P
IP
Morgan
Geraint H
GH
Morse
Andrew D
AD
Sheridan
Simon
S
Leese
Mark R
MR
Maynard
Jon
J
Evans
Suzanne T
ST
Pillinger
Colin T
CT
Drummond
Duncan L
DL
Heys
Samantha C
SC
Huq
S Ejaz
SE
Kent
Barry J
BJ
Sawyer
Eric C
EC
Whalley
Martin S
MS
Waltham
Nicholas R
NR