Report an accessibility problem
Buseck Center for Meteorite Studies

Behind the Scenes – Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometer

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!

Center Post Doctoral Research Associate Alice Stephant has been using ASU's 6f secondary ion mass spectrometer (SIMS) to measure the hydrogen isotope ratio and water content of mineral grains in eucrite meteorites. 

Eucrites are the most common type of achondrite meteorite falls (vs. finds) and are believed to form from cooling of magma on the surface of the Asteroid 4-Vesta; the number 4 refers to Vesta being the fourth asteroid ever discovered, in March of 1807, by German astronomer Heinrich Wilhelm Olbers.

Dr. Alice Stephant