Physics
Scientific paper
Dec 2010
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2010agufm.p53a1508b&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2010, abstract #P53A-1508
Physics
[5499] Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets / General Or Miscellaneous, [6235] Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects / Mercury
Scientific paper
The surface of Mercury is heated to 450°C during the day and is periodically bombarded by the solar wind - processes that have likely been occurring for billions of years. Mercury’s ion tail is composed of ions including Na, K, and Ca and is thought to be the result of surface mineral damage from heat and irradiation processes, possibly including photon-stimulated desorption, thermal desorption, and impact vaporization. We are seeking to quantify the results of irradiation and thermal damage on likely surface minerals that make up the regolith by simulating space weathering. We irradiate anorthoclase, enstatite, diopside, and ilmenite with fast neutrons for 12hrs, and then heat these minerals to 1300°C. We also heat grains that have not been irradiated. The irradiation is equivalent to 40,000 Earth years on the surface of Mercury. The grains are analyzed in an electron microprobe before and after irradiation and/or heating. Our initial results take the form of compositional profiles from the interior to the exterior of grains, showing ion losses from both irradiation and heating; we compare our curves with those from diffusion models. The results of these studies should indicate the species and volumes of ions likely to be released from each mineral, and should pave the way for measuring spectra of damaged minerals in labs, with the goal of comparing the spectra of damaged minerals with spectra obtained from MESSENGER.
Brown Stephanie M.
Elkins-Tanton Linda T.
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