The UK Cosmochemistry Analytical Network IARC Node - Phase 2

正如STFC网站所述，英国宇宙化学分析网络是一项综合计划，旨在开发新的分析技术，用于实验室分析地外物质，特别是从太空任务直接返回地球的尘埃样本。从恒星核合成的物理学到生命的起源，UK-CAN将成为天基行星任务和几个地面观测天文学领域的重要补充。开发新仪器的需要是由即将返回的空间任务所获得的样品以及地外样品的性质所驱动的。从原始陨石中分离出来的星际颗粒大小从几微米到几纳米不等（有机物和纳米钻石）。目前的技术只能单独分析最大的，而且分析仅限于主要的同位素。UK-CAN的科学目标包括了解单个星际颗粒中记录的重元素核合成，确定星际介质中过程的性质和时间尺度，以及了解早期太阳系活动，粒子辐射和恒星流出。UK-CAN还旨在了解基于放射性同位素和天体物理模型调和的时间尺度，了解太阳系中从最早的凝析物到现在的行星预算的水的历史，以及火星内部和大气的地球化学和地球物理演化。2004年“创世纪”号、2006年“星尘”号和2007年“缪斯- c”号发回的样本，以及可能从火星带回的土壤，都刺激了国际社会正准备进入一个样本分析的新时代。英国国家历史博物馆、开放大学和曼彻斯特大学是在对地外样本进行实验室分析方面具有专业知识和卓越记录的英国机构，这些机构将构成UK- can的核心。没有一个实验室能够掌握自然样品表征所必需的技能和专业知识，因此综合英国范围的方法是必要的。自然历史博物馆将重点开发用于亚微米大小颗粒的结构和矿物学鉴定和表征的工具。曼彻斯特大学将专注于开发和应用新的纳米探针技术，用于无机材料的高空间分辨率同位素分析。开放大学将专注于开发下一代有机微探针，用于纳米到微米尺度的有机物质分析。

As stated on the STFC website, the UK Cosmochemistry Analytical Network is an integrated scheme for the development of new analytical technologies for the laboratory analysis of extraterrestrial material, particularly dust samples returned directly to Earth from space missions. With applications ranging from the physics of stellar nucleosynthesis to the origins of life, the UK-CAN will be an essential complement to space-based planetary missions and to several areas of ground based observational astronomy. The need to develop new instrumentation is driven by the imminent return of samples obtained by space missions, as well as by the nature of extraterrestrial samples. Interstellar grains isolated from primitive meteorites range in size from a few microns to a few nanometres (organics and nanodiamonds). Only the largest can by analysed individually with present technology and analyses are limited to the major isotopes. The scientific goals of UK-CAN include understanding the heavy element nucleosynthesis recorded in individual interstellar grains, determining the nature and timescale of processes in the interstellar medium and understanding the early solar system activity, particle irradiation and stellar outflows. UK-CAN also aims to understand time-scales based on radioisotopes and reconciliation with astrophysical models, understand the history of water in the Solar System from earliest condensates to the present planetary budgets and the geochemical and geophysical evolution of Martian interior and atmosphere. The international community is gearing up towards a new era of sample analysis, stimulated by the return of samples from GENESIS in 2004, STARDUST in 2006 and MUSES-C in 2007, and the potential return of soil from Mars. The UK institutions with major expertise and a proven track record of excellence in the laboratory analysis of extraterrestrial samples are the National History Museum, the Open University and the University of Manchester and these institutions will form the core of UK-CAN. No one laboratory can master the skills and specialisations necessary for the characterisation of natural samples so an integrated UK-wide approach is necessary. The Natural History Museum will focus on development of tools for the structural and mineralogical identification and characterisation of sub-micron-sized grains. University of Manchester will specialise in development and application of new nanoprobe technologies for high spatial resolution isotopic analysis of inorganic materials. The Open University will concentrate on the development of the next generation organic microprobes for nano to micron scale analysis of organic matter.