MRI: Acquisition of an Electron Probe Microanalyzer for Innovative Geological, Biogeochemical, and Material Science Applications

资金用于购买现代电子探针微分析仪（EPMA），以支持几个老道明大学（ODU）的研究项目，以及诺福克州立大学（NSU）和汉普顿大学（HU）的活动，这两所大学都是少数民族服务机构，以及威廉与玛丽学院（W&amp；M）。这些研究项目包括开创性的铁颗粒示踪技术，该技术利用现有的EPMA在过去16年里测量北极海冰和气候变化研究中的颗粒化学，使用详细的（10 ìm）耳石层化学对鱼类种群动态进行研究，这对未来的鱼类资源管理至关重要，对无价的海洋文物（如USS Monitor）进行金属修复，研究对太空探索至关重要的铝锂合金的分层，研究大型粒子加速器（例如，杰斐逊实验室和费米实验室以及未来的国际直线对撞机，一个90亿美元的项目）中使用的电极，以及校准具有广泛应用于研究和工业的新激光分析技术。ODU和其他地方机构的创新研究项目越来越多，需要EPMA和其他类型的微观分析，促使ODU承诺扩大建筑空间和支助这种设备。ODU致力于确保一名合格的、经验丰富的EPMA操作员全职工作，以促进这项研究，并确保新的EPMA得到适当的维护。所要求的EPMA将取代39岁的ETEC EPMA，该EPMA现已远远超过退休年龄。EPMA仪器的最新发展使得夜间和周末的自动化操作成为可能，并且可以安全地进行场外监测。这允许扩大EPMA的使用范围，因为目前资助的大部分铁颗粒工作可以在正常工作时间后完成，这使得仪器在白天使用时需要更多的动手操作。所要求的EPMA是ODU主要研究基础设施计划的一部分。新的研究设施将容纳EPMA和其他微量分析仪器，正在建设中，计划于2009年初完工，将成为一个区域微量分析设施。EPMA将提供？为ODU， NSU， HU， w&m和其他机构的研究生和本科生提供研究经验。据估计，在最初几年，来自这些机构的12名教员研究人员、21名研究生和58名本科生将使用新的EPMA。除了研究之外，EPMA还将用于研究生和本科生课程的课堂演示和练习。管理计划提供的使用费包括维修合同、用品和经验丰富的操作人员，远远超过赠款的三年。作为学院的一部分，理学院保证其长期运行和维护。美国研究基础设施改善计划。

Funds are provided to acquire a modern electron probe micro-analyzer (EPMA) to support several Old Dominion University (ODU) research programs, as well as activities at Norfolk State University (NSU) and Hampton University (HU), both minority-serving institutions, and the College of William and Mary (W&M). These research programs include the pioneering iron grain tracer technique, which employed the existing EPMA to measure grain chemistry over the last 16 years for research on Arctic sea ice and climate change, research on fish population dynamics using detailed (10 ìm) otolith-layer chemistry that is essential for future management of fish stocks, metal restoration for priceless marine artifacts such as the USS Monitor, investigations of delamination in Aluminum-Lithium alloys important to space exploration, studies of electrodes used in large particle accelerators (e.g., Jefferson Lab and Fermilab and the prospective International Linear Collider, a nine billion dollar project), and calibrations of new laser analysis techniques with wide applications for research and industry. The growing list of innovative research projects at ODU and other local institutions requiring an EPMA and other types of microanalyses has prompted a commitment by ODU to expand the building space and support for such equipment. ODU is committed to ensuring that a qualified, experienced EPMA operator is available full-time to facilitate this research and that the new EPMA is maintained properly. The requested EPMA will replace a 39 year old ETEC EPMA that is now well beyond retirement age. Recent developments in EPMA instrumentation has made extended overnight and weekend automated operation possible and safe with offsite monitoring. This allows for expanded usage of an EPMA because much of the currently funded iron grain work can largely be done after normal work hours, opening the instrument to greater daytime usage requiring hands-on operation.The requested EPMA is part of a major research infrastructure plan at ODU. The new Research Facility that will house the EPMA and other microanalysis instrumentation is under construction and scheduled for completion in early 2009 and will be a regional microanalyses facility. The EPMA will provide ?hands-on? research experience for graduate and undergraduate students at ODU, NSU, HU, W&M, and other institutions. An estimated 12 faculty researchers, 21 graduate and 58 undergraduate students from these institutions will use the new EPMA in the first few years. Besides research, the EPMA will be used for classroom demonstrations and exercises for both graduate and undergraduate courses. The management plan provides for usage charges to cover a maintenance contract, supplies, and an experienced operator well beyond the three years of the grant. The long-term operation and maintenance is guaranteed by the College of Sciences as part of the College?s research infrastructure improvement plan.