Electron Microprobe Upgrade for the University of Maine

该奖项提供一半的资金用于升级缅因州大学地质科学系操作的旧的但功能正常的电子显微探针。大学承诺提供升级所需的剩余资金。电子探针是固体元素组成原位定量分析的首选标准仪器，其空间分辨率等于几微米或更好。缅因大学（University of Maine）是该州唯一使用这种仪器的大学。现在的仪器很旧，但值得修理和改进。这次升级将增加一个能量色散X射线光谱仪系统，并将以比新仪器低得多的成本使电源和其他关键电子元件现代化。升级后的微型探针将继续为缅因大学的教师和学生的研究项目服务，并向外部研究人员开放。

This award provides one-half the funding required to upgrade an old but functional electron microprobe operated by the Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Maine. The University is committed to providing the remaining funds required for the upgrade. The electron microprobe is a standard instrument of choice for in-situ quantitative analysis of the elemental composition of solids with a spatial resolution equal to several microns or better. The University of Maine operates the only such instrument in the state. The current instrument is old but worthy of repairs and improvements. This upgrade will add an energy dispersive X- ray spectrometer system and will modernize the power supply and other key electronic components at much less cost than a new instrument. The upgraded microprobe will continue to service faculty and student research projects at the University of Maine and to be available to outside researchers as well.