Laser mass spectrometer microscopy for analysis of cultural heritage objects

在化学部和多学科活动办公室的化学测量和成像计划的支持下，de弗里斯教授及其在加州大学圣巴巴拉分校（UCSB）的团队与洛杉矶盖蒂保护研究所（GCI）的研究人员之间的一个新的合作项目将开发一种能够明确识别文化遗产对象中有机成分的新技术。这种新方法是基于一种特殊形式的激光质谱法，结合显微镜在一个独特的仪器。这种方法将具有必要的空间分辨率，以隔离少量的有机材料在离散层的微小安装样品从绘画（称为横截面），和灵敏度，以提供分子特异性识别的材料存在于非常低的浓度。在分子和微观结构水平上对艺术家的材料进行明确的鉴定，可以阐明历史上的地质或生物材料来源、制造过程和贸易路线。对艺术作品的理解还有助于管理员和策展人制定必要的存储和展览协议，以保护和保存艺术作品，并协助艺术历史学家调查对象，艺术家和历史和文化环境之间的关系。在这项工作中开发的R2 PI-uMS技术也有望加强艺术保护以外的许多不同领域的科学研究，从电子工业中的有机表面分析，到现代涂料工业中的分析/测试，再到植物学或生物学研究中细胞中代谢物的空间分布研究。参与该项目的研究生将有独特的机会在学术和文化遗产研究环境中工作，帮助培养下一代从事文化遗产科学的科学家。除了培训研究生外，研究人员还将让本科生和高中生参与UCSB赞助的少数民族学生和高中外展计划以及盖蒂研究生实习生和多元文化本科生实习计划的框架。在另一项合作中，来自杰克逊州立大学（一所历史悠久的黑人大学）的学生也将参与该项目。 通过让这样一个多元化的研究人员群体参与进来，PI将致力于增加少数民族学生在STEM领域的参与。

With support from the Chemical Measurement and Imaging Program in the Division of Chemistry and Office of Multidisciplinary Activities, a new collaborative project between Professor de Vries and his group at the University of California-Santa Barbara (UCSB) and researchers at the Getty Conservation Institute (GCI) in Los Angeles will develop a new technique capable of unambiguously identifying organic components in cultural heritage objects. The new method is based on a specialized form of laser mass spectrometry, combined with microscopy in a unique instrument. This approach will have the spatial resolution necessary to isolate small quantities of organic material in discrete layers of tiny mounted samples from paintings (called cross sections), and the sensitivity to provide molecularly specific identification of materials present in very low concentrations. The unambiguous identification of artists' materials at a molecular and microstructural level can elucidate historic geological or biological material sources, manufacturing processes and trade routes. An understanding of works of art additionally assists conservators and curators develop the storage and exhibition protocols necessary to protect and preserve works of art, and assists art historians in their investigations into the relationships between an object, the artist, and the historical and cultural environments in which it was created. The R2PI-uMS technique developed in this work is also expected to enhance scientific research in a number of diverse fields other than art conservation, ranging from organic surface analysis in the electronics industry, to analysis/testing in the modern paint industry, to the study of spatial distributions of metabolites in cells in botanical or biological studies. The graduate students that are involved in the project will have the unique opportunity of working in both academic and cultural heritage research environments, helping to foster the next generation of scientists engaged in cultural heritage science. In addition to training graduate students, the researchers will involve undergraduate and high school students in the framework of UCSB sponsored outreach programs to minority students and high schools and the Getty's Graduate Intern and Multicultural Undergraduate Internship programs. In an additional collaboration, students from Jackson State University, a historically black college, will also participate in the project. By involving such a diverse group of researchers, the PIs will work to increase participation of minority students in STEM fields.