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Ricardo  Arévalo

Ricardo Arévalo, Jr.

Professor

Ph.D. University of Maryland, 2010

Contact

PHY 2332
John S. Toll Physics Building
4150 Campus Drive
College Park, MD 20742

Phone: (301) 405-5352

Fax: (301) 405-3597

rarevalo [at] umd [dot] edu

Laboratory

Links

Research Interests

As a hybrid between a classically trained geochemist and a mission-oriented planetary scientist, my research ambitions are multifaceted. I continue to be interested in refining our understanding of the architecture of the Earth’s mantle, both today and in the geological past, but I also attempt to constrain other planetary processes through the exploitation of well-defined geochemical systems/proxies.

More specifically, my laboratory research relies on the development of innovative analytical protocols and the advancement of pioneering technologies/instrumentation to: 1) characterize the organic content in planetary materials (natural, synthetic, and analog samples); 2) quantify ultratrace element abundances (down to sub-ppb levels); and, 3) measure non-traditional stable isotopes, via highly precise and accurate laser ablation mass spectrometry. I have become deeply invested in the development of miniaturized pulsed laser systems as well as a variety of game-changing mass analyzers that promise to revolutionize our understanding of our planetary neighborhood.