Back to results

University of Cambridge

The Helium-Ion-Microscope Secondary-Ion-Mass-Spectrometer: A New Tool for Earth and Materials Science

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

The Helium-Ion-Microscope Secondary-Ion-Mass-Spectrometer: A New Tool for Earth and Materials Science - Matthew Ball Geological materials are exceptionally complex, with heterogeneity across all lengthscales. Likewise, the history of these materials is complex, experiencing extremes of pressure and temperature from nanosecond shock events to the slow action of plate collision over millions of years. Due to this, the key to unlocking the true history and importance of these materials has increasingly been due to accurate measurements at the micro-to-nano-scale, with microscopy and microanalysis at the forefront of this movement. The Helium-Ion-Microscope Secondary-Ion-Mass-Spectrometer is a new tool which allows for the measurement of elements and isotopes at nanoscale resolution, the capabilities of which have yet to be explored on geological materials. Here we explore the limits of this instrument on geological materials for the first time, from light element measurements, through isotopic analysis to heavy platinum group elements in meteorites, with discussion on how best to use novel clustering methods on large field of view datasets for correlative approaches.

Degree

thesis:*
Name dc:type.qualificationname
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Level dc:type.qualificationlevel
Doctoral
Grantor dc:publisher.institution
University of Cambridge
Year dc:date.issued
2021

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Ball, Matthew
Advisors dc:contributor.advisor
  • Harrison, Richard
  • Taylor, Richard
  • Einsle, Joshua

Subjects

dc:subject × 4

Rights

dc:rights
Language dc:language
eng

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Author Identifier
0000-0003-3469-762X
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:www.repository.cam.ac.uk:1810/334352

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Cambridge University
Base URL
api.repository.cam.ac.uk/server/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Ball, Matthew. The Helium-Ion-Microscope Secondary-Ion-Mass-Spectrometer: A New Tool for Earth and Materials Science. Doctoral thesis, University of Cambridge, 2021. https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.81765