MRI: Development of a Laser-ultrasonic Ice Core Tomography System

1229722 Van Wijk这项重大研究仪器拨款支持开发一种非接触式、非破坏性的激光声波层析成像系统，用于研究冰芯的物理特性，以支持气候动力学和冰川学研究。这项开发将建立在原型仪器设计的基础上，但希望新的仪器组件和方法将能够区分冰晶大小和取向、裂缝、气泡密度和颗粒物质密度沿岩心分布的细微变化，从而能够快速和自动地识别冰川冰的季节性分层。成功的开发可以使快速确定冰川季节性分层的标准方法成为可能，并减少目视方法以及冰川物理特性的人工薄片和光学表征所固有的误差。拟议的开发包括测试通过弹性波特征确定冰年龄的方法的稳健性，以及通过气体介质加压在模拟现场压力条件下使用该技术。除了研究冰川以外，这项技术还可能有其他有用的应用(例如，生物医学成像)。开发将在博伊西州立大学物理声学实验室进行，包括地球物理学研究生，以及这所非授予博士学位的机构课堂内外的本科生。***

1229722Van WijkThis Major Research Instrumentation grants support the development of a non-contacting, non-destructive, laser acoustic tomography system for the study of the physical properties of ice cores in support of climate dynamics and glaciological research. The development will build upon a prototype instrument design but it is hoped that the new instrument components and methods will allow for differentiation of subtle changes in the distribution of ice crystal size and orientation, fractures, bubble density and particulate matter density along core to enable rapid and automated identification of seasonal layering of glacial ice. Successful development could enable standard methods for rapid pinpointing of seasonal layering of glacial ice and reduce errors inherent in visual methods and manual thin sectioning and optical characterization of glacial ice physical properties. The proposed development involves testing the robustness of the method for dating ice via its elastic-wave signature and use of the technique in simulated in situ pressure conditions via gas medium pressurization. The technique may have other useful applications beyond studies of glacial ice (e.g., biomedical imaging). Development will take place in the Boise State University Physical Acoustics Lab and involve Geophysics graduate, and undergraduate students in and outside the classroom at this non-Ph.D. Granting institution. ***