Sep 12 – 16, 2005
University of Liverpool
Europe/Zurich timezone

A miniature X-Ray Diffraction/X-Ray Fluorescence instrument concept

Sep 15, 2005, 10:30 AM
45m
University of Liverpool

University of Liverpool

Greenbank Conference Park
Board: P18
Contributed Poster Applications in Astronomy and Astrophysics P : Coffee and Poster Session

Speaker

Mr Amir Intisar (School of Engineering and Design, Brunel University)

Description

We describe an instrument concept using Charge Coupled Devices (CCDs) capable of simultaneously recording the X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) information from a sample. The instrument concept uses deep depletion CCDs in photon counting mode which can efficiently detect X-rays from 0.5-10 keV. One such instrument under study, named Mars-XRD, is a miniature XRD \ XRF instrument to be used on the ESA Mars Rover planned for launch in 2011. The proposal explores the possibility of using 4 CCDs tiled in a 130mm Rowland Circle covering the 3-60o angular range. The main operation of this device is to perform XRD on mineral samples for the purpose of phase identification, with the added capability of XRF for chemical composition analysis. The application of FPGAs (Field programmable Gate Arrays) for real time data analysis of CCD images is also discussed. Using FPGAs, diffraction data from CCDs can be analyzed in real time, greatly reducing the processing requirements of higher level software. Initial data from an early prototype is presented.

Primary author

Mr Amir Intisar (School of Engineering and Design, Brunel University)

Co-authors

Andrew Holland (Brunel University) I Hutchinson (Brunel University) N Nelms (Brunel University)

Presentation materials

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