Constraints on the nature of the ancient lunar magnetic field

Details Constraints on the nature of the ancient lunar magnetic field Constraints on the nature of the ancient lunar magnetic field

Jun 1976

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1976natur.261..675g&link_type=abstract

Nature, vol. 261, June 24, 1976, p. 675-677. NASA-supported research.

Physics

1

Lunar Evolution, Lunar Magnetic Fields, Paleomagnetism, Remanence, Breccia, Constraints, Ion Irradiation, Lunar Rocks, Solar Wind

Scientific paper

Assuming that the physical properties of solar-wind ions have remained unchanged over the past 4 billion years, the observation of solar-wind ions in lunar breccias with compaction ages greater than 3.2 billion years places constraints on the nature and origin of the ancient lunar magnetic field. Solar-wind ions would not be expected to occur in old lunar breccias if a surface magnetic field of more than 0.03 gauss was present. Several explanations of this phenomenon are consistent with the global lunar dynamo theory of the origin of the lunar dipole field, including a wandering of the lunar dipole axis, late onset of dynamo action, and reversals of the lunar dipole field, producing a long-term field close to zero. Models invoking external field magnetization as the cause of the ancient lunar magnetic field constrain the dipole axis, precluding field reversals, and do not provide an alternative explanation for the observed occurrence of solar-wind ions in lunar breccias.

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