MINIATURE THIN FILM DEPOSITION SYSTEM

NASA'S CRAF PROBE WILL BE USING SEM ANALYSIS TO EXPLORE THE DUST FROM COMETS. AS THE DUST IS NOT LIKELY TO BE CONDUCTING, SOME MEANS MUST BE FOUND TO APPLY THIN FILMS (20 NM) TO THE SURFACES OF MICRON-SIZED DUST PARTICLES WITHOUT HEATING THEM EXCESSIVELY. ISM PROPOSES TO ADAPT ITS PATENTED MICROMEVVA MINIATURE METAL ION SOURCE TO PRODUCE A METAL ION PLASMA AND DIRECTLY DEPOSIT THIN FILMS OF CONDUCTING METALS ONTO DUST PARTICLES. THE MICROMEVVA ISPARTICULARLY SUITED TO THE SPACE APPLICATION BECAUSE IT REQUIRES NO CARRIER GAS, WORKS WITH MANY STABLE METALS, DOES NOT REQUIRE HEATING OF THE SURFACE TO BE COATED TO ACHIEVE GOOD ADHESION, AND HAS NO MOVING PARTS. IN ADDITION, IT HAS ALREADY BEEN TESTED IN A THREE INCH SIZE, SO IT IS READILY MINIATURIZED FOR THIS MISSION. A WIDE VARIETY OF METALS CAN BE DEPOSITED, INCLUDING THE NOBLE METALS SUCH AS PLATINUM AND RHODIUM.