Premium
TOF‐SIMS analysis of cometary matter in Stardust aerogel tracks
Author(s) -
Stephan Thomas,
Rost Detlef,
Vicenzi Edward P.,
Bullock Emma S.,
MacPherson Glenn J.,
Westphal Andrew J.,
Snead Christopher J.,
Flynn George J.,
Sandford Scott A.,
Zolensky Michael E.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
meteoritics and planetary science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.09
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1945-5100
pISSN - 1086-9379
DOI - 10.1111/j.1945-5100.2008.tb00619.x
Subject(s) - aerogel , comet , organic matter , chemical composition , nanometre , composition (language) , carbon fibers , chemistry , analytical chemistry (journal) , astrobiology , materials science , environmental chemistry , nanotechnology , physics , organic chemistry , composite material , linguistics , philosophy , composite number
— Cometary matter in aerogel samples from the Stardust mission was investigated with TOF‐SIMS for its elemental and organic composition. While single grains >1 μm are highly variable in their chemical composition, nanometer‐scale material found in the wall of one track has within a factor of 1.22 bulk CI chondritic element ratios relative to Fe for Na, Mg, A1, Ti, Cr, Mn, and Co. Compared to CI, a depletion in Ca by a factor of four and an enrichment in Ni by a factor of two was observed. These results seem to confirm recent reports of a CI‐like bulk composition of Wild 2. The analysis of organic compounds in aerogel samples is complicated by the presence of contaminants in the capture medium. However, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that could possibly be attributed to the comet were observed.