Calibration-free quantitative elemental analysis of meteor plasma using reference laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy of meteorite samples

Ferus, Martin; Koukal, Jakub; Lenža, Libor; Srba, J.; Kubelík, Petr; Laitl, Vojtěch; Zanozina, E. M.; Váňa, Pavel; Kaiserová, Tereza; Knížek, Antonín; Rimmer, Paul B.; Chatzitheodoridis, Elias; Civiš, Svatopluk

doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201629950

Cited by 30 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 46 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…There have been successful models of meteor radiation providing relevant results of relative abundances of the main elements. These models have been mostly applied to individual bright fireball spectra captured in high resolution (Borovička 1993;Trigo-Rodriguez et al 2003;Ferus et al 2018;Drouard et al 2018). In order to survey larger samples of meteor spectra, a simplified method of spectral classification (Borovička et al 2005) has been introduced, which is also applicable to more effective low-resolution video observations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spectral and orbital survey of medium-sized meteoroids

Matlovič

Tóth

Rudawska

et al. 2019

A&A

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Aims. We investigate the spectra, material properties, and orbital distribution of millimeter-to decimeter-sized meteoroids. Our study aims to distinguish the characteristics of populations of differently sized meteoroids and reveal the heterogeneity of identified meteoroid streams. We verify the surprisingly large ratio of pure iron meteoroids on asteroidal orbits detected among mm-sized bodies. Methods. Emission spectra and multi-station meteor trajectories were collected within the AMOS network observations. The sample is based on 202 meteors of -1 to -14 magnitude, corresponding to meteoroids of mm to dm sizes. Meteoroid composition is studied by spectral classification based on relative intensity ratios of Na, Mg, and Fe and corresponding monochromatic light curves. Heliocentric orbits, trajectory parameters, and material strengths inferred from empirical K B and P E parameters were determined for 146 meteoroids.Results. An overall increase of Na content compared to the population of mm-sized meteoroids was detected, reflecting weaker effects of space weathering processes on larger meteoroids. The preservation of volatiles in larger meteoroids is directly observed. We report a very low ratio of pure iron meteoroids and the discovery of a new spectral group of Fe-rich meteors. The majority of meteoroids on asteroidal orbits were found to be chondritic. Thermal processes causing Na depletion and physical processes resulting in Na-rich spectra are described and linked to characteristically increased material strengths. Numerous major and minor shower meteors were identified in our sample, revealing various degrees of heterogeneity within Halley-type, ecliptical, and sungrazing meteoroid streams. Our results imply a scattered composition of the fragments of comet 2P/Encke and 109P/Swift-Tuttle. The largest disparities were detected within α-Capricornids of the inactive comet 169P/NEAT and δ-Aquarids of the sungrazing 96P/Machholz. We also find a spectral similarity between κ-Cygnids and Taurids, which could imply a similar composition of the parent objects of the two streams.A&A proofs: manuscript no. AA_2019_36093_p Fig. 1: Slovak part of the global AMOS network. Observations of the AMOS-Spec and AMOS stations by the Astronomical and Geophysical Observatory in Modra (AGO), Arborétum Tesárske Mlyňany (ARBO), Kysucké Nové Mesto (KNM), and Važec (VAZ) were used in this work. Red, green, and blue labels designate operating standard AMOS cameras, spectral stations, and planned stations.low-resolution meteor spectra , the rough composition (chondritic, achondritic, metallic) can be identified. We attempt to verify this hypothesis and try to look for additional information about the meteoroid nature and structure that can be revealed from determined orbital and atmospheric parameters.One of the most surprising results of the study by Borovička et al. (2005) was the large number of the detected pure-iron meteoroids, suggesting that iron meteoroids prevail among mmsized meteoroids on asteroidal orbits. These results are...

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spectral and orbital survey of medium-sized meteoroids

Matlovič

Tóth

Rudawska

et al. 2019

A&A

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In the absence of direct observations, we can turn to laboratory experiments for hints about what fraction of the total optical energy might be emitted near 777 nm. Many groups have used laser‐induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) to simulate a meteor fireball (e.g., Dell’Aglio et al., 2010; Ferus et al., 2018; Křivková et al., 2021). A high‐power laser can ablate a meteorite in a similar fashion to meteor ablation during high‐speed collisions with atmospheric molecules.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Meteors May Masquerade as Lightning in the Atmosphere of Venus

Blaske,

O'Rourke,

Desch

et al. 2023

JGR Planets

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Lightning in the atmosphere of Venus is either ubiquitous, rare, or non‐existent, depending on how one interprets diverse observations. Quantifying when and where, or even if lightning occurs would provide novel information about Venus’s atmospheric dynamics and chemistry. Lightning is also a potential risk to future missions, which could float in the cloud layers (∼50–70 km above the surface) for up to an Earth‐year. Over decades, spacecraft and ground‐based telescopes have searched for lightning at Venus using many instruments, including magnetometers, radios, and optical cameras. Two optical surveys (from the Akatsuki orbiter and the 61‐inch telescope on Mt. Bigelow, Arizona) observed several flashes at 777 nm (the unresolved triplet emission lines of excited atomic oxygen) that have been attributed to lightning. This conclusion is based, in part, on the statistical unlikelihood of so many meteors producing such energetic flashes, based in turn on the presumption that a low fraction (< 1%) of a meteor’s optical energy is emitted at 777 nm. We use observations of terrestrial meteors and analogue experiments to show that a much higher conversion factor (∼5–10%) should be expected. Therefore, we calculate that smaller, more numerous meteoroids could have caused the observed flashes. Lightning is likely too rare to pose a hazard to missions that pass through or dwell in the clouds of Venus. Likewise, small meteoroids burn up at altitudes of ∼100 km, roughly twice as high above the surface as the clouds, and also would not pose a hazard.

show abstract

“…Recent experiments suggest that our abilities to study meteoroid composition and ablation from ground-based observations can be also improved by laboratory analyses. Several teams have focused on using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy of meteorite samples to study meteoroid composition [57,58]. Alternatively, the simulated ablation of meteorites in plasma wind tunnels has been used to successfully reproduce the atmospheric meteoroid interaction [59,56,60] (Fig.…”

Section: The Nature Of Meteor Radiation: Spectra and Meteoroid Compos...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Meteors: Light from Comets and Asteroids

Matlovič,

Tóth

2020

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In studies of the oldest solar system bodies -comets and asteroids -it is their fragments -meteoroids -that provide the most accessible planetary material for detailed laboratory analysis in the form of dust particles or meteorites. Some asteroids and comets were visited by spacecrafts and returned interplanetary samples to Earth, while missions Hayabusa 2 and OSIRIX-REx visiting asteroids Ryugu and Bennu are ongoing. However, the lack of representative samples of comets and asteroids opens the space to gain more knowledge from direct observations of meteoroids. At collision with the Earth's atmosphere, meteoroids produce light phenomena known as meteors. Different methods can be used to observe meteors, allowing us to study small interplanetary fragments, which would otherwise remain undetected. Numerous impressive meteor showers, storms and meteorite impacts have occurred throughout the recorded history and can now be predicted and analyzed in much more detail. By understanding the dynamics, composition and physical properties of meteoroids, we are able to study the formation history and dynamical evolution of the solar system. This work presents an introduction to meteor astronomy, its fundamental processes and examples of current research topics.

show abstract

Calibration-free quantitative elemental analysis of meteor plasma using reference laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy of meteorite samples

Cited by 30 publications

References 46 publications

Spectral and orbital survey of medium-sized meteoroids

Spectral and orbital survey of medium-sized meteoroids

Meteors May Masquerade as Lightning in the Atmosphere of Venus

Meteors: Light from Comets and Asteroids

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About