A linear time-of-flight mass spectrometer is developed for the detection and chemical analysis of nanometer-sized particles originating near the Sun. Nano-dust particles are thought to be produced by mutual collisions between interplanetary dust particles slowly spiraling toward the Sun and are accelerated outward to high velocities by interaction with the solar wind plasma. The WAVES instruments on the two STEREO spacecraft reported the detection, strong temporal variation, and potentially high flux of these particles. Here we report on the optimization and the results from the detailed characterization of the instrument's performance using submicrometer sized dust particles accelerated to 8-60 km/s. The Nano Dust Analyzer (NDA) concept is derived from previously developed detectors. It has a 200 cm(2) effective target area and a mass resolution of approximately m/Δm = 50. The NDA instrument is designed to reliably detect and analyze nanometer-sized dust particles while being pointed close to the Sun's direction, from where they are expected to arrive. Measurements by such an instrument will determine the size-dependent flux of the nano-dust particles and its variations, it will characterize the composition of the nano-dust and, ultimately, it may determine their source. The flight version of the NDA instrument is estimated to be <5 kg and requires <10 W for operation.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4868506 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Mouse pulmonary response following solid surface composite dust inhalation.
Inhal Toxicol
January 2025
Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV, USA.
: Pulmonary exposure to emissions from manipulating solid surface composite (SSC) materials has been associated with adverse health effects in humans and laboratory animals. Previous and investigations of SSC toxicity have been limited by particle delivery methods that do not fully recapitulate the workplace environment. This study sought to determine the acute SSC-induced pulmonary responses whole-body inhalation exposure.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFQualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Tire Wear Particles (TWPs) in Road Dust Using a Novel Mode of Operation of TGA-GC/MS.
Environ Sci Technol Lett
January 2025
EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, Joseph Black Building, David Brewster Rd, Edinburgh, EH9 3FJ, United Kingdom.
Detecting and quantifying tire wear particles (TWPs) in the environment pose a unique environmental challenge due to their chemical complexity. There are emerging concerns around TWPs due to their potential high numbers of particles released, outnumbering microplastics, as well as the leaching of toxic additives such as 6-PPD which has been linked to the death of salmon even when present at very low levels (<0.1 μg/L).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSources identification and health risk assessment of heavy metals in total suspended particulates (TSP) in a geochemical anomaly area influenced by historical indigenous zinc smelting activities.
Environ Geochem Health
January 2025
College of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China.
The superposition of heavy metals (HMs) from multiple anthropogenic sources in geochemical anomaly areas makes it difficult to discriminate prime sources in atmospheric HMs. This study utilized a combination of microscopic features, positive matrix factorisation, and Pb isotope fingerprints to trace the main sources of HMs bound to total suspended particulates (TSP) at a pollution site (Msoshui: MS) and control site (Lushan: LS) in northwestern Guizhou. The results reveal that the concentrations of Cd, Pb, Cr, As, Cu, Ni, and Zn in the TSP of LS are 3.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAtmospheric Hydroxyl Radical Route Revealed: Interface-Mediated Effects of Mineral-Bearing Microdroplet Aerosol.
J Am Chem Soc
January 2025
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, National Observations and Research Station for Wetland Ecosystems of the Yangtze Estuary, IRDR International Center of Excellence on Risk Interconnectivity and Governance on Weather, Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, Peoples' Republic of China.
Hydroxyl radical (·OH) plays a crucial role in atmospheric chemistry, regulating the oxidative potential and aerosol composition. This study reveals an unprecedented source of ·OH in the atmosphere: mineral dust-bearing microdroplet aerosols. We demonstrate that Kaolin clay particles in microdroplet aerosols trigger rapid ·OH production upon solar irradiation, with rates reaching an order of at least 10 M s.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnveiling the P-solubilizing potential of bacteria enriched from natural colonies of Red Sea Trichodesmium spp.
Sci Total Environ
January 2025
The Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences in Eilat, Eilat, Israel; The Fredy and Nadine Herrmann Institute of Earth Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
Phosphorus (P) is pivotal for all organisms, yet its availability is, particularly in the marine habitat, limited. Natural, puff-shaped colonies of Trichodesmium, a genus of diazotrophic cyanobacteria abundant in the Red Sea, have been demonstrated to capture and centre dust particles. While this particle mining strategy is considered to help evade nutrient limitation, details behind the mechanism remain elusive.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!