Physics
Scientific paper
Dec 2001
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2001agufm.p12d0528p&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2001, abstract #P12D-0528
Physics
6225 Mars, 6250 Moon (1221), 6297 Instruments And Techniques
Scientific paper
The relative abundance and spatial distribution of major rock-forming elements, including Fe, Ti, Ca, O, Si, Al, and Mg can be determined by deconvolution of gamma-ray pulse height spectra measured by the Lunar Prospector gamma ray spectrometer. Gamma rays associated with these elements are produced by neutron capture and inelastic scattering reactions. The flux of neutrons in the lunar surface is needed to normalize measured gamma ray production rates to determine absolute elemental abundance. The surface neutron flux can be determined from data taken by neutron detectors aboard LP, which included a fast neutron spectrometer, a thermal neutron detector, and an epithermal neutron detector. Data analysis algorithms have been developed to determine the thermal neutron number density, which governs the production of capture gamma rays, and the fast neutron flux, which governs the production of gamma rays by inelastic scattering. A description of these algorithms is presented and results are compared for selected elements to the composition of samples taken at Apollo landing sites and at locations where constraints on elemental composition are available. The uncertainty in elemental abundance is dependent on the accuracy of the response functions used for the neutron detectors, which are calculated by Monte Carlo radiation transport codes. Experimental validation of these codes is presented along with data products derived from the response functions and neutron data, including the flux of cosmic rays incident on the lunar surface, the spatial footprint for fast neutrons, and surface neutron flux maps.
Binder Alan B.
Elphic Richard C.
Feldman William C.
Gasnault O. M.
Lawrence D. Jr. J.
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