This award provides one-half the funding required to upgrade an old but functional electron microprobe operated by the Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Maine. The University is committed to providing the remaining funds required for the upgrade. The electron microprobe is a standard instrument of choice for in-situ quantitative analysis of the elemental composition of solids with a spatial resolution equal to several microns or better. The University of Maine operates the only such instrument in the state. The current instrument is old but worthy of repairs and improvements. This upgrade will add an energy dispersive X- ray spectrometer system and will modernize the power supply and other key electronic components at much less cost than a new instrument. The upgraded microprobe will continue to service faculty and student research projects at the University of Maine and to be available to outside researchers as well.
