What is Life - and How Do We Search for It in Other Worlds?

Abstract only | http://ic.arc.nasa.gov/projects/maxent2005/Abstracts/McKay-me05-invited.pdf

by: Chris McKay

Sample Analysis at Mars -

Cabane, 2004 | http://fingerprintsoflife.pbwiki.com/f/cabane2004.pdf

Rodier, 2001 | http://fingerprintsoflife.pbwiki.com/f/rodier2001.pdf

Miniaturization -

Yashin, 2001 | http://fingerprintsoflife.pbwiki.com/f/yashin_miniaturization.pdf

Title: GAS CHROMATOGRAPHIC AIR ANALYZER FABRICATED ON A SILICON WAFER.

Author: Terry, Stephen C. ; Jerman, John H. ; Angell, James B.

Affiliation: Stanford Univ, Calif

Journal: IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices; Dec. 1979; vol.ED-26, no.12, p.1880-6

Abstract: A miniature gas analysis system has been built based on the principles of gas chromatography (GC). The major components are fabricated in silicon using photolithography and chemical etching techniques, which allows size reductions of nearly three orders of magnitude compared to conventional laboratory instruments. The chromatography system consists of a sample injection valve and a 1.5-m-long separating capillary column, which are fabricated on a substrate silicon wafer. The output thermal conductivity detector is separately batch fabricated and integrably mounted on the substrate wafer. The theory of gas chromatography has been used to optimize the performance of the sensor so that separations of gaseous hydrocarbon mixtures are performed in less than 10s. The system is expected to find application in the areas of portable ambient air quality monitors, implanted biological experiments, and planetary probes. (5 refs.)

Subject (EI): GAS ANALYSIS ; SENSORS ; AIR POLLUTION - Monitoring

Title: MINIATURE GAS CHROMATOGRAPH FOR ATMOSPHERIC MONITORING.

Author: Jerman, JH ; Terry, SC

Affiliation: Stanford Univ, Calif, USA

Journal: Environ Int; 1981; v.5, no.2, p.77-83

Abstract: The techniques of integrated circuit processing have been utilized to miniaturize the main components of a gas chromatography system. A 1. 5-m long separating column, sample injection valve, and output thermal conductivity detector are all fabricated on a single 5-cm diameter silicon wafer. These components are combined with a sophisticated microcomputer system, to form an advanced, portable gas analysis and data logging system. The instrument is capable of automatically sampling the air at one minute intervals during an 8 h shift, measuring the concentrations of up to 10 different gases, calculating and storing the average and peak concentrations of those gases, and sounding an alarm if potentially dangerous environmental conditions are detected. It can also be used as a survey instrument to take and analyze samples and provide concentration information within 30 sec of sampling.

More Random Sensors

http://astrobiology.berkeley.edu/science.htm#mars_organic

http://trs-new.jpl.nasa.gov/dspace/bitstream/2014/15165/1/00-1176.pdf

A miniature quadrupole mass spectrometer array and

gas chromatograph have been designed and built for

NASA flight missions.

The properties of the QMSA are

15009 mass, 15 watts power, and of dimensions 30 cm

(P) H 12 cm (w) H 8 cm (h). These power and

dimensions correspond to the use of commercial off-theshelf

electrical components and further miniaturization

efforts are planned to reduce the size and power by a

factor of 3.