The Role of Space Weather in Forming Water from the Potential Lunar Regolith Simulant Rhyolite
Author(s)
Castarlenas, Aintzane
Advisor(s)
Editor(s)
Collections
Supplementary to:
Permanent Link
Abstract
The potential role of the solar wind and space weathering in the formation of water on a lunar surface has been studied by deuteron ion implantation followed by electron bombardment on a silica rich glass surrogate, rhyolite. The electron bombardment stimulates chemistry and leads to water formation and ion desorption. The latter process, electron stimulated desorption (ESD) probes the role of electrons from the solar wind in both producing and desorbing ionic and neutral products. Prolonged electron excitation of deuteron dosed rhyolite samples induces defects on the sample, opening paths for diffusion of molecules to the surface. These experiments lead to the conclusion that solar wind in conjunction with electron bombardment of the lunar soil can generate water and other volatile products such as molecular hydrogen. These processes should be considered when modeling the lunar hydrogen and water pathways or cycles.
Sponsor
Date
2022-08-26
Extent
Resource Type
Text
Resource Subtype
Thesis