This Major Research Instrumentation grants support the development of a non-contacting, non-destructive, laser acoustic tomography system for the study of the physical properties of ice cores in support of climate dynamics and glaciological research. The development will build upon a prototype instrument design but it is hoped that the new instrument components and methods will allow for differentiation of subtle changes in the distribution of ice crystal size and orientation, fractures, bubble density and particulate matter density along core to enable rapid and automated identification of seasonal layering of glacial ice. Successful development could enable standard methods for rapid pinpointing of seasonal layering of glacial ice and reduce errors inherent in visual methods and manual thin sectioning and optical characterization of glacial ice physical properties. The proposed development involves testing the robustness of the method for dating ice via its elastic-wave signature and use of the technique in simulated in situ pressure conditions via gas medium pressurization. The technique may have other useful applications beyond studies of glacial ice (e.g., biomedical imaging). Development will take place in the Boise State University Physical Acoustics Lab and involve Geophysics graduate, and undergraduate students in and outside the classroom at this non-Ph.D. Granting institution.
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