An Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS) (or Alpha Proton X-Ray Spectrometer for the Pathfinder mission) is a device that analyses the chemical element composition of a sample from the scattered alpha particles, emitted protons (for Pathfinder only), and fluorescent X-rays after the sample is irradiated with alpha particles and X-rays from radioactive sources.[1] Since there are faster methods available which do not use radioactive material to analyse the elemental composition of a sample, this compact and low power method is most often used on space missions.
Over the years several modified versions of the APS (without X-ray spectrometer) or APXS have been flown: Surveyor 5-7,[2] Mars Pathfinder,[3] Mars 96,[4] Mars Exploration Rover,[5] Phobos.[6] APS devices will be included on several upcoming missions: Rosetta/Philae, Mars Science Laboratory and Exomars missions.
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Several forms of radiation are used in APXS. They include alpha particles, protons, and X-rays. Alpha particles, protons, and X-rays are emitted during the radioactive decay of unstable atoms. A common source of alpha particles is curium 244. It emits particles with an energy of 5.8 MeV. X-rays of 14 and 18 keV are emitted in the decay of plutonium 240. The Mars Exploration Rovers' Athena payload uses curium 244 witth a source strength of approximately 30 millicuries (1.1 GBq).[7]
Some of the alpha particles of a defined energy are backscattered to the detector if they collide with an atomic nucleus. The physical laws for Rutherford backscattering in an angle close to 180° are conservation of energy and conservation of linear momentum. This makes it possible to calculate the mass of the nucleus hit by the alpha particle. Light elements absorb more energy of the alpha particle, while alpha particles are reflected by heavy nuclei nearly with the same energy. The energy spectrum of the scattered alpha particle shows peaks from 25% up to nearly 100% of the initial alpha particles. This spectrum makes it possible to determine the composition of the sample, especially for the lighter elements. The low backscattering rate makes it necessary for elongated irradiation, approx 10 hours.
Some of the alpha particles are absorbed by the atomic nuclei. The [alpha,proton] process produces protons of a defined energy which are detected. Sodium, magnesium, silicon, aluminium and sulfur can be detected by this method. This method was only used in the Mars Pathfinder APXS. For the Mars Exploration Rovers the proton detector was replaced by a second alpha particle sensor.
The alpha particles are also able to eject electrons from the inner shell (K- and L-shell) of an atom. These vacancies are filled by electrons from outer shells, which results in the emission of a characteristic x-ray. This process is termed Particle-Induced X-ray Emission and is relatively easy to detect and has its best sensitivity and resolution for the heavier elements.
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