The First Cosmic Ray Albedo Proton Map of the Moon

Details The First Cosmic Ray Albedo Proton Map of the Moon The First Cosmic Ray Albedo Proton Map of the Moon

Dec 2011

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2011agufm.p43f..07w&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2011, abstract #P43F-07

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

[2104] Interplanetary Physics / Cosmic Rays, [6250] Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects / Moon, [7536] Solar Physics, Astrophysics, And Astronomy / Solar Activity Cycle, [7984] Space Weather / Space Radiation Environment

Scientific paper

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) has been observing the surface and environment of the Moon since June of 2009. The CRaTER instrument (Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation) on LRO is designed to characterize the lunar radiation environment and its effects on simulated human tissue. CRaTER's multiple solid state detectors can be used to discriminate the different elements in the galactic cosmic ray (GCR) population above ~10 MeV/nucleon, and can also distinguish between primary GCR protons arriving from deep space and secondary albedo particles ejected from the lunar surface. We use protons coming up from the lunar surface with energies greater than 60 MeV to construct an albedo proton map of the Moon. The map accounts for variations in the secondary particles driven by fluctuations in the primary GCR population, and thus reveals any true spatial variations in the proton spallation yield related to elemental abundances in the regolith. Presently we find no significant differences in the yields from different regions on the Moon, although the anticipated collection of more data will improve the proton counting statistics. The average global proton yield has been increasing for the past several months, consistent with the reduction in lower-energy GCRs that is expected when solar activity increases.

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