Welcome to the Spectroscopy Lab. This laboratory supports studies of the vibrational, or thermal infrared, properties of rocks (including meteorites) and minerals, using both emission and reflection measurement techniques.  We also measure reflectance spectra at visible to near infrared wavelengths, enabling us to acquire spectral data at wavelengths spanning the coverage ranges of many planetary remote sensing systems. Our primary users are interested in understanding the variation in spectral characteristics of samples of differing mineralogies, chemistries, structures, particle sizes, shock levels, etc. The knowledge that is gained from these studies is applied to the analysis of spectra of unknown samples, as well as remote sensing data collected over the surfaces of Earth, Mars, and soon, asteroid 1999 RQ36 (target of the OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample return mission).

The lab is equipped with a Nicolet 470 FTIR spectrometer with a CsI beamsplitter and uncooled DTGS detector for coverage from ~2500 - 200 cm-1. The spectrometer is configured for both hemispherical reflectance and emission measurements. Hemispherical reflectance measurements (~4000 - 400 cm -1) are acquired via a Labsphere integrating sphere and liquid nitrogen-cooled MCT-B detector. The emission configuration is modeled after the configuration at the Thermal Emission Spectrometer (TES) laboratory at Arizona State University.

We also have a Thermo Scientific iN10 FTIR microscope, equipped to measure transmitted and reflected light spectra from ~0.9 - 25 µm, with spot sizes ranging from ~10 - 300 µm.  Automated mapping is enabled via a motorized sample stage.  The µ-FTIR has two detectors, an uncooled DTGS and a cooled, wide-band MCT.  The DTGS detector allows analysis of samples without the hassle of liquid nitrogen (good for single analyses or small numbers of analyses), and the MCT detector allows more rapid data acquisition (useful for mapping).

Our ASD, Inc. FieldSpec 4 Hi-Res spectro-radiometer is a field-portable spectrometer spanning the spectral range from 0.35 - 2.5 µm at 8 nm resolution.  It permits visible and near infrared measurements under solar and artificial illumination in a variety of laboratory and field locations.

We welcome opportunities to collaborate on projects with investigators from other institutions.