Remote laser‐induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) for lunar exploration

Abstract

Laser‐induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is an active analytical technique that makes use of a laser pulse to analyze materials of interest at a distance by creating a plasma, which emits photons at characteristic emission line wavelengths. We validate the technique for planetary exploration under vacuum conditions. We review the capability and advantages of the LIBS technique for lunar regolith analysis at 1.5 m distance from a lunar rover, and we characterize its potential for the detection of resources for future exploration, such as the determination of regolith water content. The limits of detection determined for the major elements (typically <1 wt %) help to determine regolith parent material such as feldspathic highland rocks, rocks from the ancient magmatic high magnesian suite (Mg‐suite), Fe‐rich mare basalts or potassium, rare earth element, and phosphorus‐rich (KREEP‐rich) samples. Compositional parameters commonly used to classify lunar regoliths such as TiO2, Al2O3, and K2O abundances are readily determined by LIBS. Certain elements support regolith analysis: For example, Ba and Zr can be used to confirm KREEP‐like composition, while quantifying the Ni and Co content can be used to infer the amount of meteoritic material. Finally, it is shown that the ice content of lunar soil produces strong H emissions with the LIBS techniques at the 25 wt % H2O level, while measurements on altered basalts give a limit of detection of about 1 wt % for H2O content. This demonstrates that the 5.6 wt % water content detected by the recent LCROSS experiment should be easily detectable and quantifiable by LIBS analysis.