Analysis of carbon and nitrogen signatures with laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy; the quest for organics under Mars-like conditions

Tristan Dequaire; Pierre-Yves Meslin; Pierre Beck; M. Jaber; Agnès Cousin; William Rapin; Jérôme Lasne; Olivier Gasnault; Sylvestre Maurice; Arnaud Buch; Cyril Szopa; Patrice Coll

doi:10.1016/j.sab.2017.02.015

Journal articles

Analysis of carbon and nitrogen signatures with laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy; the quest for organics under Mars-like conditions

Tristan Dequaire ¹ Pierre-Yves Meslin ² Pierre Beck ³ M. Jaber ⁴ Agnès Cousin ² William Rapin ² Jérôme Lasne ¹ Olivier Gasnault ² Sylvestre Maurice ² Arnaud Buch ⁵ Cyril Szopa ^{6, 7} Patrice Coll ¹

1 LISA (UMR_7583) - Laboratoire Interuniversitaire des Systèmes Atmosphériques

2 IRAP - Institut de recherche en astrophysique et planétologie

3 IPAG - Institut de Planétologie et d'Astrophysique de Grenoble

4 LAMS - Laboratoire d'Archéologie Moléculaire et Structurale

5 LGPM - Laboratoire de Génie des Procédés et Matériaux - EA 4038

6 PLANETO - LATMOS

LATMOS - Laboratoire Atmosphères, Milieux, Observations Spatiales

7 IUF - Institut Universitaire de France

Abstract : Organic matter has been continuously delivered by meteorites and comets to Mars since its formation, and possibly formed in situ by abiogenic and/or biogenic processes. This organic matter may be preserved from the harsh oxidizing environment of Mars in specific locations. Together with water, organic molecules are necessary to the emergence of life as we know it. Since the first martian landers, scientists have been searching for organics and until today, only one positive detection has been made by a Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometer (GCMS) instrument onboard the Curiosity rover. In this article we investigate a complementary approach to guide the search for organic matter using ChemCam, the first Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) instrument on Mars. This experimental study focuses on the analysis of carbon and nitrogen LIBS signatures in organoclay samples and allows the determination of the critical level (Lc) and limit of detection (LoD) of these elements with LIBS under Mars-like conditions, giving new insights into the search of organic matter on Mars.

Document type :

Journal articles

Domain :

Sciences of the Universe [physics] / Astrophysics [astro-ph] / Solar and Stellar Astrophysics [astro-ph.SR]

Sciences of the Universe [physics] / Astrophysics [astro-ph] / Earth and Planetary Astrophysics [astro-ph.EP]

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https://hal-insu.archives-ouvertes.fr/insu-01480646
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Submitted on : Wednesday, March 1, 2017 - 4:19:37 PM
Last modification on : Wednesday, April 14, 2021 - 3:39:54 AM

Analysis of carbon and nitrogen signatures with laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy; the quest for organics under Mars-like conditions

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Analysis of carbon and nitrogen signatures with laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy; the quest for organics under Mars-like conditions

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