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Related Experiment Videos

Mars laser hygrometer.

Christopher R Webster1, Gregory J Flesch, Kamjou Mansour

  • 1Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91109, USA. chris.r.webster@jpl.nasa.gov

Applied Optics
|August 10, 2004
PubMed
Summary
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A new miniature tunable diode laser (TDL) spectrometer precisely measures Martian water vapor. This compact instrument offers high sensitivity for analyzing atmospheric or soil-evolved H2O on Mars.

Area of Science:

  • Planetary Science
  • Spectroscopy
  • Laser Technology

Background:

  • Accurate in situ measurement of water vapor is crucial for understanding Martian atmospheric dynamics and the potential for past or present life.
  • Previous methods for water vapor detection on Mars have limitations in sensitivity, portability, or direct measurement capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To design and construct a compact, high-precision near-infrared tunable diode laser (TDL) spectrometer for in situ water vapor (H2O) analysis on Mars.
  • To assess the instrument's performance in measuring water vapor mixing ratios in simulated Martian atmospheric conditions and from evolved samples.

Main Methods:

  • Development of a miniature, thermoelectrically cooled, single-mode distributed-feedback TDL spectrometer operating at 1.87 micrometers.
  • Utilizing a vibration-rotation line near 5327.3 cm(-1) to simultaneously scan for both H2O and CO2 absorption features.

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  • Testing a 230 g prototype under simulated Martian pressures and temperatures to determine measurement precision and sensitivity.

    • Main Results:

    • The TDL spectrometer achieved precision sensitivities of 1 part in 10^6 by volume in 1 second and 0.1 part in 10^6 in 10 seconds.
    • Absolute uncertainties in the measurements were calculated to be approximately 5%.
    • The instrument demonstrated capability for in situ analysis of atmospheric water vapor and water evolved from Martian soil or ice samples.

    Conclusions:

    • The developed miniature TDL spectrometer is a highly sensitive and precise instrument for in situ water vapor detection on Mars.
    • Its compact size and high performance make it suitable for deployment in future Martian exploration missions.
    • This technology can significantly advance our understanding of the Martian water cycle and habitability.