Electron beam microprobe analyzer

• Subject Area: Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry
• Term: Funded in 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 525139682

The chemical analysis of major and minor elements with high spatial resolution in the micrometer range is of fundamental importance for all participating working groups. Both the workload and the variety of current and past research projects of the different working groups show the need for a functioning and modern equipped microprobe laboratory. The current equipment dates from 2005, the mechanics of the sample stage and spectrometers no longer provide the required reproducibility, and the beam current is increasingly unstable. At the same time, the supply of spare parts is becoming increasingly difficult, downtime due to necessary repairs is increasing, and regular operation is becoming increasingly difficult to ensure. The needs of the participating working groups for electron beam microprobe analysis with an instrument of the latest generation are described in detail. The main focus is, besides the chemical analysis of major and minor elements, the quantification of mineral chemical zonation, partly also in the submicrometer range, a high measurement accuracy at low element concentrations, the investigation of extraterrestrial material as well as sample characterization as an essential, preparatory step for further analyses (e.g. various mass spectrometric measurements).

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Elektronenstrahlmikrosonde
• Instrumentation Group: 4040 Röntgenmikrosonden
• Applicant Institution: Freie Universität Berlin
• Leader: Professor Dr. Timm John