Development for Raman-LIBS instrumentation for the ExoMars mission - Acad Staffing to 31Mar08

拉曼光谱已被证明是一种可行的非破坏性技术，用于分析地质情景中的生命/探测特征，这些特征是基于极端微生物在恶劣环境中生存所产生的特征生化物质的存在。生物与其环境之间的相互作用对生存和现存证据至关重要，重要的是，灭绝的生命形式可以从地质记录中明确识别的生物和地质标志中推测出来。最近，欧空局宣布接受ExoMars项目的拉曼/LIBS组合仪器，这是为拟议的着陆器/漫游车扩大生命探测仪器组合的重要一步，现在有必要构建和评估一个原型小型化仪器，以在一系列陆地火星模拟情况下进行测试。在布拉德福德大学，豪厄尔·爱德华兹教授和他的团队多年来一直在研究来自火星模拟地点的极端微生物的拉曼光谱，并在识别在各种实验条件下获得的生物分子特征方面积累了专业知识。该小组已经从各种各样的陆地场景中收集了一些关键样本，这些样本被认为是“类似火星的”。这些研究通过鉴定地质矿物宿主基质中存在的生物分子拉曼光谱标记带，为直接识别复杂系统中已灭绝和现存生物建立了参考光谱数据库。Bradford集团被确定为由Fernando Rull教授（巴利亚多德大学）领导的国际拉曼/LIBS仪器科学工作组的主要贡献者，并将领导拉曼/LIBS生物标志物项目。

Raman spectroscopy has been demonstrated to be a viable non-destructive technique for the analytical interrogation of geological scenarios for life / detection signatures based on the presence of characteristic biochemicals produced by extremophilic organisms for their survival in hostile environments. The interaction between organisms and their environment is critical to survival and evidence for extant, and importantly, extinct lifeforms may be surmised from unambiguous identification of biological and geological markers in the geological record. The recent announcement of the acceptance of a combined Raman/LIBS instrument for the ExoMars programme by ESA is a major step forward in the broadening of the life-detection instrumentation portfolio for the proposed lander/rover and it is necessary now to construct and evaluate a prototype miniaturised instrument for testing in a range of terrestrial Mars analogue situations. At the University of Bradford, Professor Howell Edwards and his group have been studying the Raman spectra of extremophiles from Mars analogue sites for many years and have built up expertise in the recognition of biomolecular signatures obtained under a wide range of experimental conditions. The group has instigated a collection of key samples from a diverse range of terrestrial scenarios considered to be 'Mars analogues'. These studies have initiated, through identification of biomolecular Raman spectral marker bands in the presence of geological mineral host matrices, the preparation of a database of reference spectra for direct recognition of extinct and extant organisms in complex systems. The Bradford Group is identified as a key contributor to the international Raman/LIBS instrument science working team led by Prof. Fernando Rull (University of Valladoid) and will be leading the Raman/LIBS Biomarker programme.