Delve into current research at the Center with this periodic news feature, and catch a glimpse of what our students and scientists are working on right now!
Ph.D. Candidate Emilie Dunham is melting a mixture of oxide powders in a platinum crucible to make a new standard for SIMS (Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry) analysis of meteorites.
Emilie lowers the crucible into a DelTech gas mixing furnace, and raises the temperature to 1600 Celsius. Photo ⓒ ASU/CMS/Dunham.
After 2 hours, the crucible is forced to fall down the furnace into a container of water, which quenches the molten material into a glass. Photo ⓒ ASU/CMS/Dunham.
Crucible containing quenched glass. Photo ⓒ ASU/CMS/Dunham.
The glass is removed from the crucible, ready to be used as a standard for meteorite analysis! Photo ⓒ ASU/CMS/Dunham.