Planetary Spectroscopy Laboratory

DLR - German Aerospace Center

last updated: July 19, 2023

About the Laboratory

Planetary Spectroscopy Laboratory

DLR - German Aerospace Center

@ Institute of Planetary Research / Planetary Laboratories

This Laboratory is part of:

Planetary Spectroscopy Laboratory Group laboratory complex
Networks: Geo.X

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Description

The Planetary Spectroscopy Laboratory (PSL) provides spectral measurements from VIS to FIR for comparison with remote sensing spacecraft/telescopic measurements of extraterrestrial surfaces. Reflection, transmission and emission spectroscopy are used to acquire spectral data of target materials.
An FT-IR microscope allows microscopic analysis in transmission and reflectance in the VIS+VNIR+MIR spectral range. Three identical Bruker Vertex 80V FTIR instruments are operating (in vacuum) at PSL, in an air-conditioned room. One of them is equipped with aluminum mirrors optimized for the UV, visible and near-IR, the second features gold-coated mirrors for the NIR to FIR spectral range. Spectrometers and accessory units are automatized and data calibration and reduction are made with quality controlled DLR software. External simulation chambers are attached to each of the instruments for emissivity measurements.
PSL is a facility offered to Geo.X partners, making it one of the Geo.X joint labs. Guests visiting the facility under this program will have full access to the spectroscopy laboratory, sample collection, and preparation facility and will be followed/instructed from experienced technicians and scientific collaborators. For more information please see here.

Instruments

FTIR SPECTROMETER - Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer Traditional (dispersive) infrared techniques experience difficulties due to the '1 wavenumber at a time' nature of data acquisition. This leads to either a poor signal to noise ratio in a spectrum or a very long time needed to obtain a high quality spectrum. Both these situations cause problems with kinetic work. The first gives inherent large errors, the second prohibits in-situ work. These problems can be overcome using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) that is based on the interferometer originally designed by Michelson and a mathematical procedure developed by Fourier that converts response from the 'time' to the 'frequency' domain. In the Michelson interferometer a parallel, polychromatic beam of radiation from a source (A) is directed to a beam splitter (B), made from an infrared transparent material, such as KBr. The beam splitter reflects approximately half of the light to a mirror, known as the fixed mirror (C), which in turn reflects the light back to the beam splitter. The rest of the light passes through to a mirror, moving continuously, at a known velocity, back and forth along the direction of the incoming light and this is known as the moving mirror (D). Upon reflection from the moving mirror, radiation is then directed back to the beam splitter. At the beam splitter some of the light that has been reflected from the fixed mirror combines with light reflected from the moving mirror and is directed towards the sample. After passing through the sample (E) the radiation is focused onto the detector (F). The detectors are sufficiently fast to cope with time domain signal changes from the modulatio n in the interferometer. Additional information available at http://physics.nist.gov/Divisions/Div842/Gp1/fts_intro.html (Source: Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2023. GCMD Keywords, Version 16.3 [...] )
FTIR Spectrometer - Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer

Analytical Methods

FTIR SPECTROMETER - Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer Traditional (dispersive) infrared techniques experience difficulties due to the '1 wavenumber at a time' nature of data acquisition. This leads to either a poor signal to noise ratio in a spectrum or a very long time needed to obtain a high quality spectrum. Both these situations cause problems with kinetic work. The first gives inherent large errors, the second prohibits in-situ work. These problems can be overcome using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) that is based on the interferometer originally designed by Michelson and a mathematical procedure developed by Fourier that converts response from the 'time' to the 'frequency' domain. In the Michelson interferometer a parallel, polychromatic beam of radiation from a source (A) is directed to a beam splitter (B), made from an infrared transparent material, such as KBr. The beam splitter reflects approximately half of the light to a mirror, known as the fixed mirror (C), which in turn reflects the light back to the beam splitter. The rest of the light passes through to a mirror, moving continuously, at a known velocity, back and forth along the direction of the incoming light and this is known as the moving mirror (D). Upon reflection from the moving mirror, radiation is then directed back to the beam splitter. At the beam splitter some of the light that has been reflected from the fixed mirror combines with light reflected from the moving mirror and is directed towards the sample. After passing through the sample (E) the radiation is focused onto the detector (F). The detectors are sufficiently fast to cope with time domain signal changes from the modulatio n in the interferometer. Additional information available at http://physics.nist.gov/Divisions/Div842/Gp1/fts_intro.html
Infrared spectroscopy in which a Fourier-transform spectrometer is used to separate the transmitted radiation into its component wavenumbers. (Source: IUPAC; https://iupac.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/PAC-REC-19-02-03.R2_PR191002MC.pdf (Source: Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2023. GCMD Keywords, Version 16.3 [...] )
FTIR Spectroscopy - Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

Laboratory Keywords

In addition to the instruments and analytical methods listed above, these keywords help to describe the work done in the laboratory. This may include the type of samples, standard materials, specific preparative or analytical methods and specific instrument characteristics.

Geo.X Joint Lab

Disciplines

Geoscience > Geochemistry > Mineralogy
Mineralogy
Geoscience > Space Physics and Planetary Science > Planetary Sciences
Planetary Sciences

The Research Network for Geosciences in Berlin and Potsdam

Planetary Spectroscopy Laboratory

DLR - German Aerospace Center

About the Laboratory

Planetary Spectroscopy Laboratory

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Description

Instruments

Analytical Methods

Laboratory Keywords

Disciplines

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