Space/Science » in reply to The MER-A, APX5 x-ray surface-composition results are in and...WOW!!!

Sodium? oh you mean this image.....

et — 1/20/2004 9:12:43 PM (archived)

THis one...?

With plutonium of all elements? This can't be geological, uh DUH. RTG's ok. :) Zr must be a decay byproduct....

The thing about the alkali metals (Na, and K in this case) is their peaks are superimposed on the bremstralung signal so the relative intensity of these along with the sodium peak is over represented.

As usual, HyperPhysics goves a pretty good explanation of what's going on:
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/quantum/xrayc.html#c1

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The whole thread (23 posts)

• The MER-A, APX5 x-ray surface-composition results are in and...WOW!!! - Jacob Samorodin - 1/20/2004 8:34:55 PM
  • And, its not mud - Donald - 1/21/2004 3:40:39 AM
    • re: And, its not mud - Robert Clark - 1/21/2004 4:21:32 AM
      • Give it up Robert - Donald - 1/21/2004 4:49:02 AM
        • It ain't over till the fat lady sings. - Robert Clark - 1/21/2004 4:28:31 PM
          • "La Laa Laaaaa LaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaH !!" - Nick Hoffman - 1/22/2004 5:01:53 AM
            • It means the most RELEVANT data hasn't been determined yet. Remember the water is subsurface according to GRS. (n/t) - Robert Clark - 1/22/2004 9:04:27 AM
          • Nick is waiting for you over at the Flame board (n/t) - Gary - 1/21/2004 4:39:24 PM
            • re: Nick is waiting for you over at the FlSorry bud. I don't engage in flame wars.ame board (n/t) - Robert Clark - 1/21/2004 5:15:08 PM
              • re: Sorry bud. I don't engage in flame wars. - Nick Hoffman - 1/22/2004 1:31:49 AM
  • Is this of soil? Or that Adirondack rock? - alcaray - 1/21/2004 12:41:07 AM
    • Soil. (n/t) - Jacob Samorodin - 1/21/2004 2:58:47 PM
  • Sodium? oh you mean this image..... - et - 1/20/2004 9:12:43 PM
    • RTGs? - Dave M - 1/20/2004 9:53:52 PM
      • Not RTGs - Larry J - 1/20/2004 10:06:51 PM
        • Thanks for the clarification. (n/t) - et - 1/20/2004 10:48:05 PM
  • They also found olivine - Tom Brosz - 1/20/2004 8:49:27 PM
    • Aand check out that alien skull at the bottom corner of your 1st link. - Scott Evil - 1/20/2004 10:37:37 PM
    • Yea!...And that creates a puzzle. - Jacob Samorodin - 1/20/2004 9:03:36 PM
      • re: Yea!...And that creates a puzzle. - et - 1/20/2004 9:26:30 PM
        • re: Yea!...And that creates a puzzle. - Nick Hoffman - 1/21/2004 12:48:37 AM
  • re: The MER-A, APX5 x-ray surface-composition results are in and...WOW!!! - Raoul - 1/20/2004 8:47:39 PM
    • re: The MER-A, APX5 x-ray surface-composition results are in and...WOW!!! - Johannes - 1/22/2004 1:32:57 AM