No / A profile across 8 layers from a fossil travertine terrace from a low temperature geothermal spring located in Svalbard, Norway has been studied using both Raman spectroscopy and SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) techniques to identify minerals and organic life signals. Calcite, anatase, quartz, haematite, magnetite and graphite as well as scytonemin, three different carotenoids, chlorophyll and a chlorophyll-like compound were identified as geo- and biosignatures respectively, using 785 and/or 514 nm Raman laser excitation wavelengths. No morphological biosignatures representing remnant microbial signals were detected by high-resolution imaging, although spectral analyses indicated the presence of organics. In contrast, in all layers, Raman spectra identified a series of different organic pigments indicating little to no degradation or change of the organic signatures and thus indicating the preservation of fossil biomarker compounds throughout the life time of the springs despite the lack of remnant morphological indicators. With a view towards planetary exploration we discuss the implications of the differences in Raman band intensities observed when spectra were collected with the different laser excitations. We show that these differences, as well as the different detection capability of the 785 and 514 nm laser, could lead to ambiguous compound identification. We show that the identification of bio and geosignatures, as well as fossil organic pigments, using Raman spectroscopy is possible. These results are relevant since both lasers have been considered for miniaturized Raman spectrometers for planetary exploration.

Diese Arbeit ist ein Beitrag zur theoretischen Chemie sowie zur Oberflächenchemie. Durch Kombination von computergestützten und experimentellen Untersuchungen wird die atomare Struktur von dünnen SiO2-Filmen auf Ru(0001)-Unterlagen, von eisendotierten SiO2-Filmen auf diesen Unterlagen und von H2O-Filmen auf MgO(001)-Oberflächen bestimmt. Die atomaren Strukturmodelle wurden entweder mit dem neu entworfenen und im Paket DoDo implementierten genetischen Algorithmus oder mittels auf Sachkenntnis gestützter Vermutungen erhalten. Die simulierten Eigenschaften der so erhaltenen Strukturen stimmen sehr gut mit den experimentellen Daten (Raster-Tunnel-Mikroskopie, Infrarot-Spektroskopie) überein. Die erfolgreiche Strukturbestimmung mithilfe des DoDo-Programms zeigt, dass genetische Algorithmen zur systematischen und extensiven Erkundung der Energielandschaften 2D-periodischer Systeme geeignet sind. / This work is a contribution in the field of theoretical chemistry and surface science. The joint computational and experimental studies investigated the atomic structure of ultrathin silica and iron-doped silica films formed on the Ru(0001) surface and water films formed on the MgO(001) surface. The atomic structure models were obtained using either the educated guess approach or the genetic algorithm that was designed and implemented within the DoDo package. The properties simulated for the resulting models are in a very good agreement with the experimental data (scanning tunnelling microscopy, infrared spectroscopy). The successful structure determination using the DoDo program shows that the genetic algorithm technique is capable of systematic and extensive exploration of the energy landscapes for 2D-periodic systems.