NanoSIMS (IMAGE) Washington University in St. Louis Caption The crucial instrument for the study of solar grains is an ion microprobe, a form of Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometer, or SIMS, that sandblasts material out of the grains and sends the charged debris through a mass spectrometer, which sorts it into elements and their isotopes. Here Ernst Zinner and then doctoral student Ann Nguyen work with the Nano SIMS at Washington University in St. Louis. Credit Joe Angeles/WUSTL Usage Restrictions please credit License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.