Development of light-element analyses by active x-ray spectrometer for planetary exploration

• Project/Area Number: 17K14381
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Solid earth and planetary physics
• Research Institution: Japan Aerospace EXploration Agency (2018-2019); Waseda University (2017)
• Principal Investigator: Nagaoka Hiroshi 国立研究開発法人宇宙航空研究開発機構, 宇宙科学研究所, 特別研究員(PD) (10707805)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2019)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,420,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,020,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥650,000 (Direct Cost: ¥500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥150,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥3,770,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥870,000)
• Keywords: 蛍光X線分析 / 惑星探査 / 元素組成 / 軽元素分析 / SDD

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Active X-ray spectrometer (AXS) is designed and developed to measure many elements on site with high precision at the same time. In this work, Si3N4 film which is much thinner than Be is used as X-ray window to reduce the attenuation coefficient of low-energy X-rays. Because the detection efficiency of low-energy X rays increases by the usage of Si3N4 as X-ray window, it is enable to make the analysis time of light elements (e.g., Mg, Al) shorter. Furthermore, it is reported that the X-ray intensity of X-ray generator with pyroelectric crystal LiTaO3 depends on the inner-gas pressure under high vacuum.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

惑星探査においてその場の元素組成を分析することは、その天体環境の理解や環境がどのような過程を経て現在の姿に至ったのかを理解する上で非常に重要である。本研究では惑星探査という限られた時間とリソースの中で最大限の科学的成果を引きだすために、多元素同時分析が可能な装置開発について研究した。X線分析装置は、惑星探査のみならず、地球での実地調査にも広く用いられる。放射性同位体を使用することなく、短時間で高精度な分析が可能で、かつ小型軽量な装置の開発は、宇宙用のみならず、地上用としても非常に意義がある。

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Current Status of Development of Pyroelectric and Carbon Nanotube X-ray Generators for Future and Planetary Landing Observation (2019)
  • Author(s): H. Nagaoka, T. Okada, H. Kusano, N. Tanaka, M. Naito, N. Hasebe
  • Journal Title: International Symposium on Space Technology and Science, ISTS Web Paper Archives Volume: 2019-k-04 Pages: 1-6
• [Journal Article] HERACLES Mission the Exploration and Sample Return of the Moon (2019)
  • Author(s): Y. Karouji, H. Hiesinger, M. Abe, J. Haruyama, M. Ohtake, W. Carey, M. Picard, T. Haltigin, K. Hashizume, N. Hasebe, Y. Ogawa, T. Yada, H. Nagaoka, Y. Ishihara, M. Kayama, S. Yamamoto, P. Pinet, C. Wohler, M. Landgraf
  • Journal Title: International Symposium on Space Technology and Science, ISTS Web Paper Archives Volume: 2019-k-05 Pages: 1-7
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Current Status of Development of Pyroelectric and Carbon Nanotube X-ray Generators for Future and Planetary Landing Observation (2019)
  • Author(s): H. Nagaoka, T. Okada, H. Kusano, N. Tanaka, M. Naito, N. Hasebe
  • Organizer: The 32nd International Symposium on Space Technology and Science (ISTS)
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] HERACLES Mission the Exploration and Sample Return of the Moon (2019)
  • Author(s): Y. Karouji, H. Hiesinger, M. Abe, J. Haruyama, M. Ohtake, W. Carey, M. Picard, T. Haltigin, K. Hashizume, N. Hasebe, Y. Ogawa, T. Yada, H. Nagaoka, Y. Ishihara, M. Kayama, S. Yamamoto, P. Pinet, C. Wohler, M. Landgraf
  • Organizer: The 32nd International Symposium on Space Technology and Science (ISTS)
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Current status (2018s) of development basic of active X-ray generators for X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy in future lunar and planetary landing missions (2018)
  • Author(s): Nagaoka Hiroshi、Tanaka Naomichi、Kiga Shintaro、Naito Masayuki、Hasebe Nobuyuki、Kuno Haruyoshi、Kim J Kyeong
  • Organizer: 15th Annual Meeting Asia Oceania Geosciences Society
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Basic studies for development of active X-ray generators used in X-ray fluorescence spectrometer on future lunar landing missions (2018)
  • Author(s): 長岡央、田中直道、氣賀信太郎、内藤雅之、長谷部信行、久野治義
  • Organizer: 日本地球惑星科学連合2018年大会
• [Presentation] 焦電結晶によるX線発生のガス種・ガス圧依存性 (2018)
  • Author(s): 内藤雅之、田中直道、氣賀信太郎、長岡央、長谷部信行
  • Organizer: 第65回応用物理学会春季学術講演会
• [Presentation] 将来月着陸探査搭載に向けた蛍光X線分光用X線発生装置の基礎開発状況 (2018)
  • Author(s): 長岡央、田中直道、氣賀信太郎、内藤雅之、長谷部信行、久野治儀
  • Organizer: 日本地球惑星科学連合2018年大会