An Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer is a device that analyses the chemical element composition of a sample from the scattered alpha particles, and fluorescent X-rays after the sample is irradiated with alpha particles and X-rays from radioactive sources. Since there are faster methods available which do not use radioactive material to analyse the elemental composition of a sample, this compact and low power method is most often used on space missions. A variation is the Alpha Proton X-Ray Spectrometer, such as on the Pathfinder mission, which also detects protons. The common abbreviation is APXS.
Over the years several modified versions of this type of instrument such as APS (without X-ray spectrometer) or APXS have been flown: Surveyor 5-7, Mars Pathfinder, Mars 96, Mars Exploration Rover, Phobos, Mars Science Laboratory. APS/APXS devices will be included on several upcoming missions including the Philae comet lander, and the Chandrayaan-2 lunar rover.
Read more about Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer: Source, Alpha Particles, Protons, X-ray, Specific Instruments
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