9505676 Drake This award provides one-half the funding required to purchase components to upgrade the electron microprobe instrument housed and operated in the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory at the University of Arizona. The University is committed to providing the remaining funds necessary for the acquisition. The upgrade consists of replacing the system's computer control hardware and software, replacing a contaminated backscattered electron detector, and acquiring a new vacuum evaporating unit for carbon coating of non-conductive samples. The electron microprobe is a basic analytical tool for microanalysis of solids used by a large group of researchers on the University of Arizona campus from the Lunar and Planetary Lab, the Department of Geosciences, Materials Sciences, and Engineering. This upgrade ensures access to a state-of-the-art instrument at a minimal cost compared to a new instrument. ***
