Full metadata
Title
Lunar Space Weathering by Charged Particles: Reconsidering the Roles of Solar Wind and Solar Energetic Particle Events
Description
Space weathering of planetary surfaces is a complex process involving many mechanisms that work independently over different timescales. This research aims to address outstanding questions related to solar wind rim formation on space weathered regolith and tests a new hypothesis that dielectric breakdown plays an important role in the optical maturation of lunar regolith. The purpose of this work is to highlight the limitations imposed by laboratory equipment to accurately simulate the solar wind’s effects on regolith and to provide physical context for the possible contributions of dielectric breakdown to space weathering. Terrestrial and lunar samples were experimentally irradiated and damage was characterized using electron microscopy techniques. Low-fluence proton irradiation produced differential weathering in a lunar mare basalt, with radiation damage on some phases being inconsistent with that found in the natural lunar environment. Dielectric breakdown of silicates revealed two electrical processes that produce characteristic surface and subsurface damage, in addition to amorphous rims. The results of this research highlight experimental parameters that if ignored, can significantly affect the results and interpretations of simulated solar wind weathering, and provides a framework for advancing space weathering research through experimental studies.
Date Created
2023
Contributors
- Shusterman, Morgan (Author)
- Robinson, Mark S (Thesis advisor)
- Sharp, Thomas G (Thesis advisor)
- Hibbits, Charles (Committee member)
- Bose, Maitrayee (Committee member)
- Semken, Steven (Committee member)
- Arizona State University (Publisher)
Topical Subject
Resource Type
Extent
138 pages
Language
eng
Copyright Statement
In Copyright
Primary Member of
Peer-reviewed
No
Open Access
No
Handle
https://hdl.handle.net/2286/R.2.N.189386
Level of coding
minimal
Cataloging Standards
Note
Partial requirement for: Ph.D., Arizona State University, 2023
Field of study: Geological Sciences
System Created
- 2023-08-28 05:17:59
System Modified
- 2023-08-28 05:18:04
- 1 year 3 months ago
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