An instrument design for non-contact detection of biomolecules and minerals on Mars using fluorescence

• Published in: Journal of biological engineering 2014-07, Vol.8 (1), p.16-16
• Main Authors: Smith, Heather D, McKay, Christopher P, Duncan, Andrew G, Sims, Ronald C, Anderson, Anne J, Grossl, Paul R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biotechnology; Colleges & universities; Comparative analysis; Data analysis; Lasers; Mars; Methods; Mineralogy; Minerals; Pigments; Spectrum analysis
• ISSN: 1754-1611; 1754-1611
• DOI: 10.1186/1754-1611-8-16

We discuss fluorescence as a method to detect polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and other organic molecules, as well as minerals on the surface of Mars. We present an instrument design that is adapted from the ChemCam instrument which is currently on the Mars Science Lander Rover Curiosity and thus most of the primary components are currently flight qualified for Mars surface operations, significantly reducing development costs. The major change compared to ChemCam is the frequency multipliers of the 1064 nm laser to wavelengths suitable for fluorescence excitation (266 nm, 355 nm, and 532 nm). We present fluorescence spectrum for a variety of organics and minerals relevant to the surface of Mars. Preliminary results show minerals already known on Mars, such as perchlorate, fluoresce strongest when excited by 355 nm. Also we demonstrate that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, such as those present in Martian meteorites, are highly fluorescent at wavelengths in the ultraviolet (266 nm, 355 nm), but not as much in the visible (532 nm). We conclude that fluorescence can be an important method for Mars applications and standoff detection of organics and minerals. The instrument approach described in this paper builds on existing hardware and offers high scientific return for minimal cost for future missions.