Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

The goal of this NSERC RTI grant is to enable a critical software and hardware upgrade to the JEOL JXA-8530F field emission electron microprobe (FE-EMP) instrument and to replace an ageing carbon coater required for sample preparation for the FE-EMP. The instrument was the first of its kind in Canada when it was installed in 2013 - funded by a $2 million Canada Foundation for Innovation Leaders Opportunity Fund and Ontario Research Fund grant - and is the flagship instrument of the Earth and Planetary Materials Analysis Laboratory at Western. The current FE-EMP computer hardware and Windows7 operating system cannot be used to upgrade to a Windows10 operating system, so the entire FE-EMP and supporting instrumentation needs to be replaced in order to upgrade the FE-EMP so as to be compatible with the Windows 10 software update. There is a critical need to upgrade to Windows10 as there are more security risks by staying on Windows7, a loss of software improvements, and a lack of customer support. Indeed, Western's Information Technology Services (ITS) no longer support Windows7 on campus. An upgrade will also result in faster processing of produced maps, less down time between analysis, less loss of data due to instrument crashes and data corruption, and will generate more analytical time and training opportunities for HQP. A carbon coater is needed to replace an ageing system that is not eligible for servicing anymore. In addition, replacing the ageing system will ensure a higher throughput of samples, allowing for more samples to be studied, reducing the time it takes to coat samples from over 4 hours to under 1 hour. This optimization will prevent sample preparation delays from limiting the amount of samples or data acquired by HQP on the FE-EMP. This equipment will enable cutting-edge research to be conducted across a broad range of topics. The FE-EMP supports the research programs of several NSERC-funded faculty and students in Earth Sciences, as well as several others from across campus (including Biology, Civil Engineering and Chemistry) and other academic research institutions in the region without similar equipment or expertise. This equipment also provides the foundation for Osinski's research program focused on impact cratering processes and products. The FE-EMP is critical for two major facets of his research program focused on impact melting processes and products and impact-generated hydrothermal systems. In summary, the requested upgrades will enable the Earth and Planetary Materials Analysis Laboratory to continue to support the research programs of faculty and students in the Department of Earth Sciences, as well as several others from across campus (including Biology, Civil Engineering and Chemistry) and other academic research institutions in the region without similar equipment or expertise. This will significantly enhance the training environment of HQP at Western and support world-class research excellence.