How do mass spectrometers help scientists analyze samples from meteorites and comets?

In astronomy, mass spectrometry is a vital analytical technique used to study solid cosmic samples, such as meteorites and dust returned from comets and asteroids.1

Scientists use mass spectrometers to determine the isotopic composition of these materials. This is particularly useful for analyzing minute quantities of gas that become trapped in crystals within the samples due to radioactivity or cosmic-ray impacts. By carefully heating these crystals in a laboratory, the trapped gas is released and subsequently analyzed in a mass spectrometer.1

The instrument functions by converting chemical substances into gaseous ions, which are then sorted based on their mass-to-charge ratios. By measuring the intensity and mass of these ions, researchers can identify chemical constituents and deduce the structural properties of the material. This process allows scientists to infer the temperature and pressure conditions present during the formation of these cosmic bodies.2341