title: Raman signal processing software for automated identification of mineral phases and biosignatures on Mars.
abstract: Data from the ESA ExoMars Rover Mission will provide invaluable input for further studies in astro/exobiology. The search for mineral products as indicators of present and/or past biogenetic activities in Mars' surface and subsurface samples is the main objective of the compact Raman-laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) instrument. The inherent features of Raman spectroscopy and LIBS make the combined instrument a unique and very powerful tool in the search for biomarkers and hence it is regarded as the highest priority instrument for mineral analysis within the mission. We have developed a software package for the on-board processing of the instrument's data outputs, including spectral conditioning and search-match characterization of mineral phases and biomarkers. In this paper we show the mathematical and physical basis of the software package.
authors.affiliation: Unidad Asociada Universidad de Valladolid CSIC a través del Centro de Astrobiología, Cristalografía y Mineralogía, Facultad de Ciencias, Paseo Prado de la Magdalena s/n. 47011 Valladolid, Spain. psobron@iq.uva.es
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sobron
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sobron
authors.forename: Aurelio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sanz
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rull
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D018559:Exobiology; D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment / Q000737:chemistry*; D005583:Fourier Analysis; D005844:Geology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D018535:Mars; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis*; D012984:Software; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008903:Minerals