Physics
Scientific paper
Jun 2002
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2002p%26ss...50..669p&link_type=abstract
Planetary and Space Science, Volume 50, Issue 7-8, p. 669-673.
Physics
21
Scientific paper
A problem connected with a search for life or traces of life on Mars is studied, namely, the radiation sterilization of the planet surface. Physical conditions on Martian surface now and in its former times as well as types of influencing radiation are analyzed. We show that the average dose intensity in the upper meters of Martian soil is not dangerous for living microorganisms. However, sterilization of microorganisms in the dormancy state, modeled by terrestrial radio-resistant D. radiodurans, would occur in the upper 20gcm-2 in less then 30 thousand years. The dormant life would be killed in the layer down to about 700gcm-2 by the galactic cosmic rays in a time period less then 2×106yr and below this level by the long-lived radioactivity in about 4×107yr. Destructive influence of cosmic radiation could also significantly change the mean atomic mass of hypothetical Martian fossil macromolecules and 13C/12C ratio in organic material. A conclusion is drawn that the most promising locations for the search for life or its traces on the Martian surface are the polar caps.
Blinov A. V.
Konstantinov Alexei N.
Pavlov Anatoli K.
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