Microscopy capabilities of the Microscopy, Electrochemistry, and Conductivity Analyzer

The Phoenix microscopy station, designed for the study of Martian dust and soil, consists of a sample delivery system, an optical microscope, and an atomic force microscope. The combination of microscopies facilitates the study of features from the millimeter to nanometer scale. Light-emitting diode illumination allows for full color optical imaging of the samples as well as imaging of ultraviolet-induced visible fluorescence. The atomic force microscope uses an array of silicon tips and can operate in both static and dynamic mode.