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Spark plasma sintering preparation of reference targets for field spectroscopy on Mars
Author(s) -
Montagnac G.,
Dromart G.,
Beck P.,
Mercier F.,
Reynard B.,
Cousin A.,
Maurice S.,
Wiens R.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of raman spectroscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.748
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1097-4555
pISSN - 0377-0486
DOI - 10.1002/jrs.5406
Subject(s) - spark plasma sintering , mars exploration program , raman spectroscopy , spark (programming language) , materials science , exploration of mars , plasma , calibration , astrobiology , aerospace engineering , sintering , computer science , composite material , physics , engineering , optics , quantum mechanics , programming language
We propose spark plasma sintering (SPS) as a technique to prepare reference targets for Raman and other spectroscopy instruments involved in future space missions and more generally in‐field work. We have tested the effect of SPS on different international standards that are available in the form of minerals and rocks powders. Advantages and potential issues of SPS were considered by analyzing the Raman signal and mechanical properties of the sintered targets. The shape is well controlled; the rupture toughness is enhanced, and the homogeneous distribution of the mineral phases is verified. A suite of calibration targets has thus been implemented for the SuperCam instrument on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Mars 2020 rover, and SPS may be preferred for future missions as well.