Research output per year
Research output per year
May 2003
D.Phil in Chemistry - The Electronic Spectrum of Selenium Dioxide
Corpus Christi College, University of Oxford.
June 1999
M.Chem (Hons) in Chemistry
Part II project – The Electronic Spectrum of Copper Dichloride
Corpus Christi College, University of Oxford.
My research focuses on using the RELAX mass spectrometer to analyse xenon isotope ratios in a variety of solar system materials.
RELAX (Refrigerator Enhanced Laser Analyser for Xenon) is an ultra sensitive, time of flight, resonance ionisation mass spectrometer specifically for measuring xenon isotope ratios. RELAX combines
It is the most sensitive, and lowest blank, instrument currently available for determination of xenon isotope ratios - the detection limit is 950 atoms132Xe, and is limitedonly by variation in the blank, which is currently ~1000 atoms 132Xe. At peak sensitivity sample sizes are restricted to ~106atoms. Repeat analyses of air calibration samples are reproducible, allowing precise and accurate isotope ratios to be determined by averaging multiple analyses.
Xenon isotope measurement made using RELAX had contributed to our understanding of a range of issues relating to the evolution of our solar system.
Most recently my research has focused on analysing material returned by NASA's Genesis missions. We have successfully extracted solar wind xenon from silicon collector targets which flew onboard the Genesis spacecraft, and determined the xenon concentration and isotopic composition.
I am also interested in a wide range of other samples which can be analysed using RELAX, including:
We are currently working towards attempting xenon analysis of cometary material collected and returned to earth by NASA's Stardust mission. The aerogel used to collect the cometary particles has a large Xe blank that would swamp any embedded cometary Xe, therefore we are in the process of combining closed system step etching (CSSE) with RELAX to attempt to separate the xenon in the aerogel from that in the cometary material.
I regularly organise and run a wide variety of public engagement events and activities with the Isotope Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry Group. These activities range from taking part in large events like Bluedot Festival and the Manchester Science Festival, to school visits and talks to local interest groups.
For fruther information regarding the events we have taken part in and the activities we can offer, please visit the Public Engagement secion of our website.
To keep up to date with upcoming events please visit the Earth and Solar System blog. Or follow our activities via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and our YouTube channel .
Doctor of Philosophy, The Electronic Spectrum of Selenium Dioxide, Oxford University
Oct 1999 → May 2003
Master of Chemistry, The Electronic Spectum of Copper Dichloride, Oxford University
Oct 1995 → Jun 1999
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Gilmour, J., Joy, K., Lyon, I., Burgess, R., Jones, R., Tartese, R., Holland, G., Clay, P., Crowther, S., Pernet-Fisher, J., Ruzie, L., Assis Fernandes, V., MacArthur, J., Nottingham, M., Bell, S., Baker, E., Hartley, M., Neave, D., Snape, J. & Almayrac, M.
Project: Research
Crowther, Sarah (Recipient), 2019
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Crowther, S. (Creator), Clay, P. (Creator), Joy, K. (Creator), Edwards, S. (Creator), Busemann, H. (Creator), Early, A. (Creator), Burgess, R. (Creator), Butcher, A. (Creator), Humayun, M. (Creator) & Gilmour, J. (Creator), University of Manchester Figshare, 25 Aug 2022
DOI: 10.48420/14229269.v1, https://figshare.manchester.ac.uk/articles/dataset/Noble_Gas_Evolution_of_the_Martian_Atmosphere_in_the_last_4_Gyr_Recorded_by_Regolith_Breccia_NWA_8114/14229269/1 and one more link, https://figshare.manchester.ac.uk/articles/dataset/Noble_Gas_Evolution_of_the_Martian_Atmosphere_in_the_last_4_Gyr_Recorded_by_Regolith_Breccia_NWA_8114/14229269 (show fewer)
Dataset
Crowther, S. (Creator), Mendeley Data, 28 Nov 2017
DOI: 10.17632/44vhwpxct4.1, https://data.mendeley.com/datasets/44vhwpxct4
Dataset
27/09/22
2 Media contributions
Press/Media: Expert comment