Acquisition of a Versatile Scanning Electron Microscope

威斯康星大学麦迪逊分校地质与地球物理系将购买一台特别通用的扫描电子显微镜（SEM），该显微镜配备了一系列探测器，用于该系及其附属地质博物馆的各种研究和教育活动。该仪器将能够产生高对比度的阴极发光和高分辨率的背散射电子图像，以显示锆石、钻石内含物和火星陨石等材料的化学变化，这是非常罕见的；三维二次电子图像的特征，如化石，这将有助于低真空；电子背散射探测器（EBSD）固相三维取向分析以及利用能量色散光谱进行定性化学分析。扫描电镜实验室将为研究生和高级本科生提供教学和培训，他们需要长期的经验来培养专业使用所需的能力。该培训将包括正式的课堂作业和研究活动。该设备将用于现有的由美国国家科学基金会资助的地质博物馆的教育和推广计划，目标是高中生和教师。根据我们的经验，所有年龄段的学生都对这种最先进的设备所能获得的有趣图像反应非常积极；这种类型的回应对于保持年轻学生（包括女性和代表性不足的少数民族）对科学的兴趣通常至关重要。正在进行的研究将从该设施中受益，涉及公众感兴趣的许多领域，包括水质和资源、地震的地质记录、从大气中去除碳的方法（碳封存）、气候变化的地质记录、火山灾害和矿物学的材料应用。该设备的收购将允许开发相对较新的技术的创新应用，例如EBSD。EBSD的许多应用对EarthScope计划的不同元素具有直接的适用性和实用性，该计划是NSF对美国地质演化和活动构造的多方面研究。此外，这些最先进的成像能力将对威斯康星次级离子质谱仪设施WISC-SIMS的样品选择和指导原位稳定同位素分析至关重要，威斯康星次级离子质谱仪设施于2005年3月安装了一个新的CAMECA ims-1280离子微探针。本实验室将探索稳定同位素化学（流体-物质相互作用的记录）在地球、材料和生物科学中的新应用。我们希望它能彻底改变我们对这些过程的理解。

EAR-0447332GoodwinThe Department of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Wisconsin - Madison will purchase an exceptionally versatile scanning electron microscope (SEM), equipped with a range of detectors to be used in a variety of research and educational activities within the department and affiliated Geology Museum. The instrument will have the ability to produce high contrast cathodoluminescence and high resolution back-scattered electron images of variations in chemistry of materials such as zircons, inclusions in diamonds, and Mars meteorites, which are very rare; three-dimensional secondary electron images of features such as fossils, which will be aided by low vacuum; electron back-scattered detector (EBSD) analysis of the 3D orientation of solid phases; and qualitative chemical analyses using energy dispersive spectroscopy. The SEM lab will provide teaching and training for graduate and advanced undergraduate students, who require long-term experience to develop the abilities needed for professional use. This training will include both formal class work and research activities. This equipment will be utilized in an existing, NSF-funded education and outreach program by our Geology Museum, targeted toward high-school students and teachers. In our experience, students of all ages respond very positively to the intriguing images that can be obtained with this state-of-the-art equipment; this type of response is often critical to maintaining the interest of younger students, including women and underrepresented minorities, in science. Ongoing research that will benefit from this facility addresses many areas of interest to the public, including water quality and resources, the geologic record of earthquakes, approaches to removing carbon from the atmosphere (carbon sequestration), the geologic record of climate change, volcanic hazards, and materials applications of mineralogy. The acquisition of this equipment will allow the development of innovative applications of relatively new technology, such as EBSD. Many applications of EBSD have direct applicability and utility to different elements of the EarthScope initiative, NSF's multifaceted study of the geologic evolution and active tectonics of the United States. In addition, these state-of-the-art imaging capabilities will be critical for sample selection and for guiding in situ stable isotope analysis by WISC-SIMS, the Wisconsin Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometer Facility, which installed a new CAMECA ims-1280 Ion Microprobe in March 2005. This lab will explore new applications of stable isotope chemistry - a record of fluid-material interactions - in Earth, Materials, and Biological Sciences. We expect it to revolutionize our understanding of these processes.