1st Atom Probe Tomography (APT) Workshop for Earth Sciences
Dates
Two day workshop on Friday and Saturday, January 29 – 30, 2016
Sponsor
U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)
Division of Earth Sciences Instrumentation & Facilities Program |
Workshop Overview
Atom-probe tomography (APT) is the highest spatial resolution analytical technique in existence for the characterization of materials. This technique offers the possibility of combining 3D material reconstructions with chemical compositions, including isotopes, at the atomic scale with a near part-per-million analytical sensitivity.
Recent advances in field emission microscopy and the atom probe technique have allowed the preliminary analysis of geological materials. First results from the APT application to (bio-) minerals have provided significant (bio-) geochemical information at a spatial resolution that is not currently achieved with any other methodology.
Thus, APT is emerging as an exciting new analytical approach in geosciences. However, the knowledge of APT by the geosciences community is still very limited and reduced to a few users who are familiar with the technique.
The main objectives of this two day NSF-sponsored workshop were:
1) Introducing the technique to geoscientists, mainly those interested in high-resolution in-situ geochemistry;
2) Discuss the possibilities and limitations of APT, mainly in comparison to other heavily used techniques (i.e. mass spectrometry);
3) Evaluate the level of interest and demand for APT by the geosciences community.
Recent advances in field emission microscopy and the atom probe technique have allowed the preliminary analysis of geological materials. First results from the APT application to (bio-) minerals have provided significant (bio-) geochemical information at a spatial resolution that is not currently achieved with any other methodology.
Thus, APT is emerging as an exciting new analytical approach in geosciences. However, the knowledge of APT by the geosciences community is still very limited and reduced to a few users who are familiar with the technique.
The main objectives of this two day NSF-sponsored workshop were:
1) Introducing the technique to geoscientists, mainly those interested in high-resolution in-situ geochemistry;
2) Discuss the possibilities and limitations of APT, mainly in comparison to other heavily used techniques (i.e. mass spectrometry);
3) Evaluate the level of interest and demand for APT by the geosciences community.
Participants
LocationThe University of Alabama
Department of Geological Sciences Bevill Building, 7th Avenue Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 United States of America Contact
Dr. Alberto Perez-Huerta
Email: aphuerta@ua.edu Tel: +1 205-348-8382 Fax: +1 205-348-0818 |