Berlin 2014 – wissenschaftliches Programm

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MS: Fachverband Massenspektrometrie

MS 1: New Mass Spectrometric Methods and Technical Developments

MS 1.1: Hauptvortrag

Montag, 17. März 2014, 10:30–11:00, DO24 1.205

Mass spectrometry in planetary sciences — •Ingo Leya — Physical Institute, University of Bern, Switzerland

Thanks to recent improvements in mass spectrometry, there is actually a significant progress in our understanding of planet formation and evolution. By way of example, studying meteorites and especially early solar system condensates found in meteorites with secondary ion mass spectrometry, thermal ionization mass spectrometry and/or inductively plasma mass spectrometry a consistent and reliable chronology of the first few million years of the solar system can be obtained. Some of the new results significantly changed our understanding of planetary accretion, differentiation, and evolution. In addition, very important results can be obtained by studying noble gases in planetary bodies and their constituents. Since noble gases are not affected by chemical reactions, their abundances directly trace back to the physical conditions at the beginning of the solar system. Noble gases are depleted in planetary bodies by up to 10 orders of magnitude, therefore small changes and small contributions are relatively easy to detect. By way of example, noble gases are a major tool to detect and study presolar grains, i.e., grains that have been formed in supernova explosions and/or red giant stars earlier and outside of the solar system. However, studying noble gases comes with a price; we need very sophisticated and efficient mass spectrometers and extraction techniques, which very often results in self-made systems and instruments dedicated for special tasks.