HIGH/HYPERVELOCITY PARTICLE CAPTURE AND ANALYSIS METHOD AND APPARATUS

摘要

In various embodiments a capture surface for capturing high velocity and hypervelocity dust and ice particles is provided. In certain embodiments the capture surface is comprised of a soft metal that is chosen to optimize particle capture efficiency, to minimize thermal degradation of chemicals and biochemical in the particles, and to present the captured particles to an analyzer for chemical and biochemical analysis of the particles and their contents. In various embodiments capture chambers comprising one or more such capture surfaces are provided as well as methods of use thereof.