The Mass Analyzer for Real-time Investigation of Neutrals at Europa (MARINE)

Darrach, M. R.; Madzunkov, S.; Schaefer, R. T.; Nikolić, D.; Simčič, J.; Kidd, Richard; Neidholdt, Evan L.; Pilinski, M.; Jaramillo-Botero, Andrés; Farley, K. A.

doi:10.1109/aero.2015.7119017

Cited by 6 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Its major advantage over other existing solutions is its high performance, making it a viable tool for investigating a range of experimental operating modes that are to be achieved under spaceflight conditions, such as those found, for example, in flyby studies of Europa's exosphere [38]. For a specific set of voltage scan functions, the developed numeric model is used to identify the accessible secular frequencies and to predict the stability of the rf-driven micromotion with respect to the location within the trapping volume.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Computer Modeling of an Ion Trap Mass Analyzer, Part I: Low Pressure Regime

Nikolić

Madzunkov

Darrach

2015

J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrom.

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Abstract. We present the multi-particle simulation program suite Computational Ion Trap Analyzer (CITA) designed to calculate the ion trajectories within a Paul quadrupole ion trap developed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). CITA uses an analytical expression of the electrodynamic field, employing up to six terms in multipole expansion and a modified velocity-Verlet method to numerically calculate ion trajectories. The computer code is multithreaded and designed to run on sharedmemory architectures. CITA yields near real-time simulations with full propagation of 26 particles per second per core. As a consequence, a realistic numbers of trapped ions (100+ million) can be used and their trajectories modeled, yielding a representative prediction of mass spectrometer analysis of trace gas species. When the model is compared with experimental results conducted at low pressures using the conventional quadrupole and dipole excitation modes, there is an excellent agreement with the observed peak shapes. Owing to the program's efficiency, CITA has been used to explore regions of trapping stability that are of interest to experimental research. These results are expected to facilitate a fast and reliable modeling of ion dynamics in miniature quadrupole ion trap and improve the interpretation of observed mass spectra.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The PFK test gas was introduced directly into the trap placed within the ultra-high vacuum (UHV) chamber with the base pressure below 1 × 10 −11 Torr [38]. The ring electrode is driven at the ω rf /2π = 752.243 kHz frequency using the scan rate of 6667 Th/s.…”

Section: Dipole Excitationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Computer Modeling of an Ion Trap Mass Analyzer, Part I: Low Pressure Regime

Nikolić

Madzunkov

Darrach

2015

J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrom.

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“…S11 to S17 in the Supplementary Data provide additional results). This is important in the context of designing optimized molecular collectors in MS instruments, as described in Darrach et al (2015), where concentric angled conical collectors enable gas molecules to specularly reflect in a single collision before exiting through the instrument's aperture.…”

Section: Factors That Influence V Fmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…HVI can also cause postimpact chemistry, potentially confounding interpretation of the collected data. Mitigation or avoidance of these problems imposes strict constraints on mission parameters, in particular flyby velocities, as well as on instrument design choices geared to reduce fragmentation and postimpact chemical reactions from HVI (Darrach et al, 2015).…”

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confidence: 99%

Understanding Hypervelocity Sampling of Biosignatures in Space Missions

et al. 2021

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The atomic-scale fragmentation processes involved in molecules undergoing hypervelocity impacts (HVIs; defined as >3 km/s) are challenging to investigate via experiments and still not well understood. This is particularly relevant for the consistency of biosignals from small-molecular-weight neutral organic molecules obtained during solar system robotic missions sampling atmospheres and plumes at hypervelocities. Experimental measurements to replicate HVI effects on neutral molecules are challenging, both in terms of accelerating uncharged species and isolating the multiple transition states over very rapid timescales (<1 ps). Nonequilibrium first-principles-based simulations extend the range of what is possible with experiments. We report on high-fidelity simulations of the fragmentation of small organic biosignature molecules over the range v = 1-12 km/s, and demonstrate that the fragmentation fraction is a sensitive function of velocity, impact angle, molecular structure, impact surface material, and the presence of surrounding ice shells. Furthermore, we generate interpretable fragmentation pathways and spectra for velocity values above the fragmentation thresholds and reveal how organic molecules encased in ice grains, as would likely be the case for those in ''ocean worlds,'' are preserved at even higher velocities than bare molecules. Our results place ideal spacecraft encounter velocities between 3 and 5 km/s for bare amino and fatty acids and within 4-6 km/s for the same species encased in ice grains and predict the onset of organic fragmentation in ice grains at >5 km/s, both consistent with recent experiments exploring HVI effects using impact-induced ionization and analysis via mass spectrometry and from the analysis of Enceladus organics in Cassini Data. From nanometer-sized ice Ih clusters, we establish that HVI energy is dissipated by ice casings through thermal resistance to the impact shock wave and that an upper fragmentation velocity limit exists at which ultimately any organic contents will be cleaved by the surrounding ice-this provides a fundamental path to characterize micrometer-sized ice grains. Altogether, these results provide quantifiable insights to bracket future instrument design and mission parameters.

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“…To monitor time-variable planetary atmospheric processes a complete inventory of relevant chemical species at high sampling rates is required. The QIT-MS instrument has the necessary analytical power: 50 full-range (10-150 u) mass spectra per second at high sensitivity (7.5 × 10 11 cps/Pa), supplemented with on-demand high resolution (4000 at 32 u and 5000 at 136 u) mode of operation [17]. These QIT-MS capabilities offer real-time altitude-resolved measurements of atmospheric chemical composition during probe descent below 60 km, including trace species detection and the ability to distinguish between most mass isobars.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Response of QIT-MS to Noble Gas Isotopic Ratios in a Simulated Venus Flyby

2019

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The primary objective of the present study is to investigate the science return of future Venus atmosphere probe mission concepts using the Quadrupole Ion Trap (QIT) Mass Spectrometer (MS) Instrument (QIT-MS-I). We demonstrate the use of Monte-Carlo simulations in determining the optimal ion trapping conditions and focus the analysis on retrieving isotope ratios of noble gases in the model sample of the Venus atmosphere. Sampling takes place at a constant velocity of ~10 km/s between 112–110 km altitude and involves the use of getter pumps to remove all chemically-active species, retaining inert noble gases. The enriched sample is leaked into passively pumped vacuum chamber where it is analyzed by the QIT-MS sensor (QIT-MS-S) for 40 minutes. The simulated mass spectrum, as recorded by the QIT-MS-S, is deconvoluted using random walk algorithm to reveal relative abundances of noble gas isotopes. The required precision and accuracy of the deconvolution method is benchmarked against the a priori known model composition of the atmospheric sample.

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The Mass Analyzer for Real-time Investigation of Neutrals at Europa (MARINE)

Abstract: Abstract-Presented herein is the progress on developing a new mass analyzer for analysis of the exospheres of planets, moons, and primitive bodies, such as found at Europa or Enceladus.

Cited by 6 publications

References 11 publications

Computer Modeling of an Ion Trap Mass Analyzer, Part I: Low Pressure Regime

Computer Modeling of an Ion Trap Mass Analyzer, Part I: Low Pressure Regime

Understanding Hypervelocity Sampling of Biosignatures in Space Missions

Response of QIT-MS to Noble Gas Isotopic Ratios in a Simulated Venus Flyby

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