P. Sarrazin
Papers
4
Total Citations
35
H-Index
3
About
P. Sarrazin is a pioneer in the development of in-situ mineralogical instrumentation for planetary exploration, with a career dedicated to enabling robotic geologists to analyze extraterrestrial materials directly on other worlds. His primary research focuses on the application of combined X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) for planetary science, a technique that simultaneously reveals a sample’s crystal structure and elemental composition. Sarrazin’s most influential work, "Landed XRD/XRF analysis of prime targets in the search for past or present Martian life" (1998, 24 citations), established the foundational framework for using these instruments to identify promising landing sites on Mars, particularly those that might preserve biosignatures or harbor extant life. He further advanced the field by developing a novel sample-handling approach for XRD analysis that dramatically reduced the need for complex sample preparation—a critical requirement for autonomous robotic missions. His contributions extend to the Moon, where he proposed a robotic search for ices and hydrous minerals at the lunar poles using the same XRD/XRF technology. Sarrazin also led field campaigns at the Rio Tinto River in Spain, a Mars analog site, demonstrating the efficacy of portable XRD/XRF instruments for in-situ mineralogical analysis of acid-sulfate samples. His work has been instrumental in shaping the analytical capabilities of future landers and rovers.
Research Focus
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