A test bench instrument constructed at MOXTEK, Inc. is capable of simultaneously capturing X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) information using a charge-coupled device (CCD) as the X-ray detector. NASA is funding the instrument’s construction because of its low-power consumption and compact size; it could be used for in-situ planetary exploration missions for mineral analysis....

The portable capillary electrophoresis instrument is automated and features three independent channels with different background electrolytes to allow the concurrent optimized determination of three different categories of charged analytes. The fluidic system is based on a miniature manifold which is based on mechanically milled channels for injection of samples and buffers. The planar manifold...

In this report, we present a prototype design of a quadrupole mass filter (QMF) with hyperbolic electrodes, fabricated at the University of Liverpool using digital light processing (DLP), a low-cost and lightweight 3D rapid prototyping (RP) technique. Experimental mass spectra are shown for H(2)(+), D(2)(+), and He(+) ions to provide proof of principle that the DLP mass filter is working as a m...

We characterize the parameters of the flowing argon plasma produced by a 16-cmdiameter plasma source utilizing a transverse magnetic filter to reduce electron temperature while maintaining the quasineutrality of the flowing plasma, as a function of the operating parameters of the source: discharge voltage, discharge current, and gas flow rate/neutral background pressure. We evaluate the plasma ...