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Lunar neutron leakage fluxes as a function of composition and hydrogen content
Author(s) -
Feldman W. C.,
Reedy R. C.,
McKay D. S.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/91gl02618
Subject(s) - hydrogen , astrobiology , leakage (economics) , neutron , regolith , flux (metallurgy) , environmental science , materials science , analytical chemistry (journal) , chemistry , physics , environmental chemistry , nuclear physics , organic chemistry , metallurgy , economics , macroeconomics
Areas of the Moon that might have enhanced concentrations of hydrogen are discussed. The fluxes of thermal, epithermal, and fast neutrons escaping from the lunar surface were calculated for eight different compositions and several hydrogen contents. These flux ratios depend on composition and are very sensitive to the hydrogen content. Their measurement using flight‐proven techniques from lunar orbit should allow detection and identification of hydrogen residing in either permanently shaded cold traps near the lunar poles or mature regoliths. Knowledge of composition, especially of Fe and Ti, improves the thresholds for hydrogen detection and also could allow identification of Gd and Sm.