In Situ Chronology in the Outer Solar System

Details In Situ Chronology in the Outer Solar System In Situ Chronology in the Outer Solar System

Jan 2001

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2001iaop.work...83s&link_type=abstract

Forum on Innovative Approaches to Outer Planetary Exploration 2001-2020, p. 83

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In Situ Measurement, Chronology, Time Measurement, Solar System, Carbon 14

Scientific paper

Determining the age of a feature on a solar system body is one of the most important tasks that can be done on a planetary sample, since almost any model has to include time as one of its parameters. Unfortunately, determining the age of a feature is also one of the most difficult things to do in situ. At the University of Arizona's Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, we have identified techniques that could provide essential age determinations, using in situ technologies suitable for spacecraft delivery. We will adopt a 10% uncertainty as a target precision. For many planetary situations, an age with an uncertainty of 10% would be a huge improvement on current knowledge, and could resolve critical issues of origins and evolution. For example, there are major uncertainties about the size-frequency distribution and abundances of small bodies in the outer solar system, so a few in situ dates could go a long ways toward calibration of cratering statistics. Similarly, in situ ages would be useful for bodies on which cryovolcanism does, or might, occur, such as Europa and Titan. In addition, in situ dating could be used to determine the rates of surface processes such as sputtering on Europa. We propose four basic techniques: (1) potassium-argon (K-AR) dating, (2) cosmogenic noble gas exposure age dating, (3) C-14 dating, and (4) maturation of D/H in surface ices. K-Ar dating measures the time since formation (or perhaps significant reheating) of an ice, while the others measure surface exposure. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

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