Electrostatic charging of lunar dust

Other

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

2

Features, Landmarks, Mineralogy, And Petrology, Impurities In Plasmas, Other Topics In Physics Of Plasmas And Electric Discharges

Scientific paper

Transient dust clouds suspended above the lunar surface were indicated by the horizon glow observed by the Surveyor spacecrafts and the Lunar Ejecta and Meteorite Experiment (Apollo 17), for example. The theoretical models cannot fully explain these observations, but they all suggest that electrostatic charging of the lunar surface due to exposure to the solar wind plasma and UV radiation could result in levitation, transport and ejection of small grains. We report on our experimental studies of the electrostatic charging properties of an Apollo-17 soil sample and two lunar simulants MLS-1 and JSC-1. We have measured their charge after exposing individual grains to a beam of fast electrons with energies in the range of 20<=E<=90 eV. Our measurements indicate that the secondary electron emission yield of the Apollo-17 sample is intermediate between MLS-1 and JSC-1, closer to that of MLS-1. We will also discuss our plans to develop a laboratory lunar surface model, where time dependent illumination and plasma bombardment will closely emulate the conditions on the surface of the Moon.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Electrostatic charging of lunar dust does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Electrostatic charging of lunar dust, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Electrostatic charging of lunar dust will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1719681

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.