Acquisition of an SEM with quantitative X-ray detectors to research Geology-Climate-Biology connections

该奖项将允许获得一种带有x射线探测器的新型扫描电子显微镜，这将促进和加速对岩石记录、人类学遗址和主动化学补救领域的地质、气候和生物学之间关系的研究。它将用于研究微观尺度上的化学变化。地质方面的应用包括研究历史上和史前的大型火山喷发，这些火山喷发释放出的硫导致多年来全球变冷。我们还将分析化石，在细胞水平上研究古代生命。环境工程应用包括使用合成材料和诱导矿物生长来去除水中的有毒金属。人类学的应用包括调查人类与景观之间的关系，通过从木炭中了解什么是烹饪火的关键燃料来源，以及景观中的火灾如何影响这些人。火山灾害评估、水污染修复以及了解环境与当地过去和文化之间的关系，都对国家利益产生了明显的积极影响。这些只是许多未来研究项目的几个例子，这些项目将通过新的扫描电子显微镜来实现。该仪器将促进目前NSF资助的地球生物学和低温地球化学、沉积地质学和古生物学、自然和人类系统耦合动力学、地球-生命过渡的研究进展，以及NSF考古学、极地项目办公室、本科生研究经验项目和工程和教育中心。本次采购的仪器为钨丝扫描电子显微镜（SEM），将配备能量色散（EDS）和波长色散（WDS）定量地球化学探测器和三色阴极发光探测器。这一文书将是一项独特的区域性资源。它将支持地质-气候-生物学联系以及其他科学和工程项目的前沿基础研究。现代扫描电镜仪器在低电压下提高了光束密度，可以在高空间分辨率下进行微地球化学应用（EDS/WDS）。该扫描电镜的分辨率可达3-4 nm，可对100-500 nm量级的微观化石细胞特征进行成像，并可明确识别沉积炭和人为炭的分类来源。SMU在运行电子束和x射线仪器方面有着悠久的成功历史。收购带有x射线探测的扫描电镜将使SMU成为这些技术的区域中心。这将带来大量的研究教育机会。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The award will permit the acquisition of a new Scanning Electron Microscope with X-ray detectors that will facilitate and accelerate research into relationships among geology, climate and biology in the rock record, at anthropologic sites and in areas of active chemical remediation. It will be used to investigate chemical variations at the micro-scale. Geological applications include studying large historic and prehistoric volcanic eruptions that emit sulfur that causes global cooling over multiple years. We will also analyze fossils to investigate ancient life at the cellular level. Environmental engineering applications include using synthetically produced materials and induced mineral growth to remove toxic metals from water. Anthropology applications include investigating the relationship between humans and the landscape by learning from charcoals what were the critical sources of fuel for cooking fires, and also how fires in the landscape impacted these peoples. Volcanic hazard assessment, water contamination remediation and understanding the relationship between the environment and native pasts and cultures all have clear positive impacts on national interests. These are only a few examples of many future research projects to be realized through the new Scanning Electron Microscope. This instrument will promote the progress of currently NSF funded research in Geobiology and Low Temperature Geochemistry, Sedimentary Geology and Paleobiology, Dynamics of Coupled Natural and Human Systems, Earth-Life Transitions, in addition to NSF Archaeology, Office of Polar Programs, the Research Experiences for Undergraduates program and Engineering and Education Centers.The instrument to be purchased is a tungsten filament Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), which will be outfitted with energy dispersive (EDS) and wavelength dispersive (WDS) quantitative geochemical detectors and a 3 color cathodoluminescence detector. This instrument will be a unique and regional resource. It will support cutting-edge, fundamental research into geology-climate-biology connections and other science and engineering projects. The improved beam density at lower voltages of modern SEM instruments allows for micro-geochemical applications (EDS/WDS) at high spatial resolutions. The proposed SEM can achieve a resolution of 3-4 nm, allowing imaging of microscopic fossil cellular features on the order of 100-500 nm and can definitively identify taxon sources of sedimentary and anthropogenic charcoals. SMU has a long history of running successful, productive electron beam and X-ray instrumentation. The acquisition of the proposed SEM with X-ray detection will make SMU a regional hub for these technologies. This will lead to numerous research education opportunities.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.