Laboratory for Astrophysics and Surface Physics (LASP-UVa)
Current Research
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Lunar Investigations: Surface & Exosphere
Maximizing the science derived from samples returned by the Apollo Program and lunar analog materials in preparation for future Artemis missions to the Moon.
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Asteroid Origins & Evolution
Investigating the physical and chemical effects of space weathering by solar-wind ions and micrometeorite bombardment through laboratory experiment and returned asteroid sample analysis.
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Mercury: Space Weathering and Exosphere Production
Quantifying sputtering desorption yields for exospheric constituents from the rough Hermean regolith and investigating compositional, chemical and optical change in sulfur- and carbon-rich magnesium silicates.
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Astrochemistry of the Icy Planets & ISM
Radiolysis and radiochemistry of condensed gas surfaces; measuring the binding energy of organic species to icy grains; & calculating the stability & chirality of magnesium nanosilicates
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KEVION Ion Irradiation Facility for Planetary Science
An ion accelerator for transformative research in studies of space weathering, radiolysis, radiosynthesis, sputtering, surface charging, radiation damage, instrument development and sample characterization.
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Diffusion in Regolith Grains
Understanding the motion of atoms and molecules across, into, and between surfaces of regolith grains aided by temperature or enhanced by solar-wind ion irradiation.
Recent Publications
Noah Jäggi and Catherine A. Dukes,"Magnesium sulfide powder analyzed by XPS," Surf. Sci. Spectra 32 (1): 014001 (2025) https://doi.org/10.1116/6.0004185
K.B. Stelmach, C.A. Dukes, and R.T. Garrod, "A Search for Chirality in Hydrogenated Magnesium Nanosilicates: A DFT and TD-DFT Investigation," Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 128, 18, 3475–3494, (2024) https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpca.3c06521
- D. Laczniak, M. Thompson, R. Christoffersen, C. Dukes, R. Morris, and L. Keller, “Investigating the role of incident ion flux in solar wind space weathering of carbon-rich asteroidal regolith via H+ and He+ irradiation of the Murchison meteorite" Icarus, Volume 410, 115883 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2023.115883
Affliliations
LASP Archived Data Links
Miscellaneous
LASP Laboratory Memes .....
Equipment on the fritz? Confused about a result? Program not working? Science is hard. Memes are fun. Enjoy!