A high-resolution, large mass range cycloidal sector coded aperture miniature mass spectrometer for planetary exploration

Understanding solar system beginnings, searching for the requirements for life, and understanding the workings of solar systems are cross-cutting themes of planetary science research as described in the 2013-2022 Decadal survey. Mass spectrometers have been and continue to be the primary in situ method for analysis of planetary materials to answer priority questions related to the three themes. An ideal mass analyzer for planetary exploration would have: (i) mass range up to at least 500 u; (ii) ability to measure stable isotope ratios with high precision (±1 ‰); and (iii) Ability to distinguish between various isobaric species at low mass (<60 u). Currently, no flight mass spectrometer has all these capabilities. The proposed SR-CAMMS (super-resolution coded aperture miniature mass spectrometer) instrument described in herein would integrate several unique technologies including cycloidal mass analyzers, the computational sensing techniques of spatially coded apertures and super-resolution, carbon nanotube (CNT) field emission electron ionization sources, and capacitive transimpedance amplifier (CTIA) array detectors. The SR-CAMMS project plan includes demonstration of low TRL technologies followed by combining them with more mature technologies to build a breadboard prototype system reaching TRL 4 by the end of the period of performance. SR-CAMMS is expected to be applicable to a wide range of past and future NASA missions.