VIRTUAL

 Thursday, February 24th    2022

3:45 – 4:45 pm (MT)

WEBEX 

 Speaker:  Assoc. Prof. Mehmet Yesiltas

Associate Professor of Space Sciences

Kirklareli University (Turkey)

“Spectroscopic Investigation of Astromaterials”

 

Abstract: 

Astromaterials are invaluable samples for understanding the formation and early processes of our solar system. Investigation of returned asteroid particles, meteorites, interplanetary dust particles, and micrometeorites significantly contributes to our understanding of the early solar system. Carbonaceous chondrites, for instance, are some of the most primitive extraterrestrial samples, they still retain records of their origin, formation, evolution and post-accretionary processes. Though, their investigation requires novel analytical techniques with high resolution.  Chemical composition of meteorites is highly heterogeneous and includes minerals as well as a wide range of organic compounds that are typically <1 µm in size. Organic nanoglobules are even smaller (50–500 nm). Raman imaging spectroscopy (<1 µm spatial resolution) and near-field infrared imaging spectroscopy (<20 nm spatial resolution) can non-destructively characterize the constituents of extraterrestrial materials while preserving the petrographic context. In this talk, recent investigations of various astromaterials with nano-FTIR and micro-Raman spectroscopy will be presented.

Bio:

Assoc. Prof. Yesiltas’ research revolves around the investigation of extraterrestrial samples in an effort to understand their origin and formation mechanisms. Currently, he is a faculty member at Kirklareli University (Turkey). Previously, he was a postdoc at Stony Brook University, Dept of Geosciences. Received his PhD from University of Central Florida, MS from Florida State University, and BS from Ondokuz Mayis University (Turkey), all in Physics.        myesiltas@knights.ucf.edu