Analyses of extraterrestrial small samples using synchrotron radiation imaging: application to samples returned by space craft missions.

Abstract

Analytical methods using synchrotron radiation imaging for extraterrestrial small samples, such as micrometeorites and IDPs, have been developed. Observation of dust tracks as well as dust particles in an aerogel dust collector is possible by micro-radiography using refraction imaging. This method can be applied to Stardust mission sample, which will be returned from comet Wild-2 in January, 2006. Density measurement of micrometeorites by micro-tomography can be applied to Hayabusa mission sample, which will be returned from S-type asteroid ITOKAWA in June, 2007.