Space Science Exploration Instrument Development at the Center for
Space Resources: Overview and detail on CRDS numerical simulation

Seminar by
Dr. Chris Dryer and Adam Boyts,
Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO

Abstract:

This seminar will be divided into two parts. In the first part of this talk an overview of Space Science Exploration Instrument Development at the Center for Space Resources, the Colorado School of Mines will be presented. Three instruments concepts are under development, two instruments funded under NASA's ASTID program and one under NASA's PIDDP program. The first instrument is a fiber optic technique for hyperspectral imaging with no moving parts. The second is a combined LIBS (Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy) and Raman Spectroscopy instrument aimed at close contact examination of rocks, regolith, and ices. The third instrument is aimed at the detection of biogenic gasses for astrobiology missions to study subsurface gas evolution and thermal vents using mid-IR tunable laser and pulsed cavity ringdown spectroscopy (CRDS).
In the second part Adam Boyts will present a method for numerical simulation of a Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy instrument. Beginning with a review of optical spectroscopy and optical resonators Adam will present his work on predicting electromagnetic field propagation within the instrument. Mode formation and an Eigenmode analysis are addressed when the instrument is excited using a pulsed Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL). A signal processing context is posed to further study of the complex detected signals.

Bio's:

Chris Dreyer is an Assistant Research Professor in the Engineering Division at the Colorado School of Mines and faculty member in the Center for Space Resources. Chris graduated with a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Colorado in 2000, where he studied combustion and applied laser based instrumentation for the study of combustion before turning to
space science instrumentation. Prior to this in 1993 he completed a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Drexel University. Since 2001 Chris has been working with colleagues at Firestar Engineering to develop instrumentation for space exploration aimed at close examination of surfaces in boreholes or drill cores, and trace gasses evolved from thermal vents, regolith, rocks,
and ices.

Adam Boyts is a Graduate student at the Colorado School of Mines pursuing a Masters of Science degree in Engineering Systems. His Electrical Engineering specialty focuses on sensing, communications and controls. Adam is a BS graduate of Physics from the Colorado School of Mines. Adam has experience from Los Alamos National Laboratory and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. His expected graduation date is December, 2006.