Theoretical modelling of X-ray fluorescence signals for different lunar compositions and dependence on solar activity

We present a forward modelling technique for calculating the surface X-ray spectra for a variety of lunar terrains. Our calculations considered variations in solar fluxes from solar quiescent condition to large flare activity (M1 flare), and expected elemental concentrations in the target, as well as yield, instrumental, and viewing geometry parameters for X-ray induced fluorescence from the lunar surface. Additionally, we present estimates of anticipated XRF signals from prominent K_α lines observable by a collimated 14 cm² X-ray detector from a 100 km lunar orbit with ∼20 km spatial resolution. Our results show that Mg, Al and Si characteristic K_α lines can be observed for all solar conditions. The Ca K_α lines line can be differentiated from a fixed background during more energetic solar conditions such as C1 and M1 flares, whereas Ti and Fe lines are identifiable only during C1 and M1 solar flare conditions for Apollo 12 site composition. Both the K_α X-ray intensity ratios of Mg/Si and Al/Si correlate well with concentration ratios of Mg/Si and Al/Si, respectively, for B1 and M1 solar conditions. The K_α X-ray intensity ratios of Fe/Si and Ca/Si correlates with concentration ratios of Fe/Si and Ca/Si, respectively, for M1 solar condition. In principle, the modelling technique outlined here can be used to determine absolute elemental abundances (Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Ti and Fe) from X-ray spectra measured during recent and future lunar missions.     

X-ray fluorescence spectrometrywith the SELENE orbiter

X-ray fluorescence spectrometry of the Moon using a CCD-based instrument “XRS” is planned with the SELENE (Selenological and Engineering Explorer) orbiter, which will be launched in 2003. In the Apollo 15 and 16 missions, elemental mapping of Mg, Al and Si has been performed at the lunar equatorial regions for only 9% of the total surface. Much improved datasets will be obtained by using the XRS to map most of major elements, for 90% coverage of the total surface, and within 20 km spatial resolution. Key scientific objectives are (a) to measure the global average of lunar surface composition for investigation of the overall properties of lunar crust, (b) to map the rock-type distribution to study the formation and evolution of the crust and the maria, and to speculate the origin of the dichotomy, (c) to survey the chemical pattern of lava flows, or bottoms of craters or basins, for surveying the vertical structure and composition of the lunar crust and mantle. We describe the XRS instrument.     

Plasma electron temperature variability in lunar surface potential and in electric field under average solar wind conditions

The Moon is immersed in plasma environment. The most interesting challenge of the lunar plasma– field environment is that it is alternatively dominated by the extended but variable outer atmosphere of the Earth – the magnetosphere – and by the extended but highly variable solar atmosphere – the solar wind. Understanding the plasma environment and its interaction with the lunar surface will be beneficial to both manned and robotic surface exploration activities and to scientific investigations. Presented is a preliminary map of variations of lunar surface electric potential over the day side and night side using probe equations and a discussion on dust dynamics in this E-field structure using the data from Electron Reflectometer in Lunar Prospector spacecraft during 1998–1999. On the day side, potential is around 5 V and on the night side it reaches up to −82 V. On the night side region, only highly energetic electrons can overcome this large negative potential. The variation at electron temperature (T_e) strongly reflects in the surface potential. The potential reaches to a value of −82 V for T_e = 58 eV. Surface charging causes the electrostatic transport of charged dust grains. Dust grain size of 0.1 μm shows a levitation height of 4.92 m on lunar day side, 748 m on terminator region and 3.7 km on the night side. The radius of maximum sized grain to be lofted, R_max, peaks at the terminator region (R_max = 0.83 μm). At the transition region dust levitation is almost absent. This region is most suited for exploration activities as the region is free from hazards caused by lunar dust.     

Solar X-ray Monitor (XSM) on-board Chandrayaan-2 orbiter

The remote X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy is a powerful technique to investigate the elemental abundances in the atmosphere-less planetary bodies. The experiment involves measuring spectra of fluorescent X-rays from lunar surface using a low energy X-ray detector onboard an orbiting satellite. Since the flux of fluorescent X-ray lines critically depend on the flux and spectrum of the incident solar X-rays, it is essential to have simultaneous and accurate measurement of X-ray from both Moon and Sun. In the context of Moon, this technique has been employed since early days of space exploration to determine elemental composition of lunar surface. However, so far it has not been possible to exploit it to its full potential due to various reasons. Therefore it is planned to continue the remote X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy experiment on-board Chandrayaan-2 which includes both lunar X-ray observations and solar X-ray observations as two separate payloads. The lunar X-ray observations will be carried out by Chandra Large Area Soft x-ray Spectrometer (CLASS) experiment; whereas the solar X-ray observations will be carried out by a separate payload, Solar X-ray Monitor (XSM). Here we present the overall design of the XSM instrument, the present development status as well as preliminary results of the laboratory model testing. XSM instrument will have two packages namely – XSM sensor package and XSM electronics package. XSM will accurately measure spectrum of Solar X-rays in the energy range of 1–15 keV with energy resolution ∼200 eV @ 5.9 keV. This will be achieved by using state-of-the-art Silicon Drift Detector (SDD), which has a unique capability of maintaining high energy resolution at very high incident count rate expected from Solar X-rays. XSM onboard Chandrayaan-2 will be the first experiment to use such detector for Solar X-ray monitoring.     

Si对TiAl合金高温抗氧化性能的影响

利用X射线衍射、扫描电镜、能谱仪等手段研究了TiAl-Si(原子数分数为0~20%)合金在1 173 K大气中24 h的恒温氧化.结果表明:Si元素可以有效地提高TiAl合金的高温抗氧化性能;随着Si含量的增加,氧化膜厚度依次减薄,TiO₂的含量逐渐减少,Al₂O3的含量逐渐增加,添加到10%左右时就有连续致密的Al₂O₃保护膜形成;Si在0~20%的添加过程中并没发现Si的氧化物生成.分析表明:Si对抗氧化性能的贡献可归结于Si与Ti有很好的亲和力,可以有效地降低Ti离子的活度、阻碍Ti离子的向外扩散, 相对来说增强了Al离子的活度,促进连续致密的Al₂O₃保护膜生成.      

Gamma-ray spectrometer for Japanese lunar polar orbiter

We review the current status of the development of Gamma-Ray Spectrometer (GRS) for the Lunar mission SELENE. The GRS instrument will measure gamma-rays in the energy range from 100 keV to 9 MeV. The instrument is a high-purity Ge detector surrounded by BGO and plastic scintillators which are operated as an anticoincidence shield, and is cooled by a Stirling cycle cryocooler. The primary objective is to provide global maps of the lunar composition. Measurements are anticipated for Fe, Ti, U, Th, K, Si, Mg, Al, O, Ca and Na over the entire lunar surface. The abundance of water ice in the permanently shaded craters at both the lunar poles will be measured with this instrument.     

Gamma-ray detector on board lunar mission Chang’E-1

Gamma-ray spectrometer (GRS) is included in the payload of Chinese first lunar mission Chang’E-1 that will be launched in 2007. Specific objectives of the GRS are to map abundance of O, Si, Fe, Ti, U, Th, K, and perhaps, Mg, Al, and Ca to depths of about 20 cm. There are remarkable advantages for GRS application to remote sensing elemental materials over the entire lunar surface: large effective area and good ability for background rejection. We will describe the design of GRS and present its performance in this paper. Moreover, the GRS calibration will also be introduced.     

Overview of the Latest Scientific Results of China's Lunar Exploration Program

China's Chang'E-4 probe successfully landed on 3 January 2019 in Von Kármán crater within the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) basin on the lunar far side. Based on the data acquired by the scientific payloads onboard the lander and the rover, the researchers obtained the related information such as the geologic and tectonic setting of the landing area, compositional characteristics of the landing surface materials, dielectric permittivity and density of the lunar soil. The experiments confirmed the existence of materials dominated by olivine and low-calcium pyroxene in the SPA basin on the lunar far side, which preliminary revealed the geological evolution history of the SPA basin and even that of the early time lunar crust, as well as the tectonic setting and formation mechanism of the materials in the lunar interior. The researchers also inves-tigated the particle radiation, Linear Energy Transaction (LET) spectrum, and so forth on the lunar surface. The low-frequency radio observations were carried out on the lunar far side for the first time as well. This article summarizes the latest scientific results in the past years, focusing on the Chang'E-4 mission. Key words CLEP, Chang'E-4, Scientific objectives, Scientific payloads, Scientific results      

嫦娥三号巡视器有效载荷

嫦娥三号巡视器配置了全景相机、测月雷达、红外成像光谱仪、粒子激发X射线谱仪四种科学探测有效载荷. 介绍了有效载荷的科学探测任务、系统设计方案和系统组成,描述了各有效载荷的方案设计要点,设计中的主要关注点及主要技术指标等.      

Night side lunar surface potential in the Earth’s magnetosphere

In the Earth’s magnetotail, Japanese Moon orbiter Kaguya repeatedly encountered the plasmoid or plasma sheet. The encounters were characterized by the low energy ion signatures including lobe cold ions, cold ion acceleration in the plasma sheet-lobe boundaries, and hot plasma sheet ions or fast flowing ions associated with plasmoids. Different from the previous observations made in the magnetotail by the GEOTAIL spacecraft, the ions were affected by the existence of the Moon. On the dayside of the Moon, tailward flowing cold ions and their acceleration were observed. However, on the night side, tailward flowing cold ions could not be observed since the Moon blocked them. In stead, ion acceleration by the spacecraft potential and the electron beam accelerated by the potential difference between lunar surface and spacecraft were simultaneously observed. These electron and ion data enabled us to determine the night side lunar surface potential and spacecraft potential only from the observed data for the first time.     

Regolith effects in planetary X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy: Laboratory studies at 1.7–6.4 keV

Laboratory measurements are presented to study the effects of the physical properties of regolith on planetary soft X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. Two laboratory setups are used to independently measure these regolith effects using lunar regolith analog samples with three different particle-size ranges. Discussion is given on the data analysis. Some of the data may be valid only for qualitative conclusions. Analytical modelling is used to separate the effects expected for a plane-parallel and homogeneous medium from those of measured regolith analogs. The surface roughness and porosity of the regolith are observed to induce an enhancement of the higher-energy part of the spectrum as a function of the incidence angle. The enhancement is larger for rougher surfaces. A brief discussion is given on the relevance of this study for future planetary missions carrying soft X-ray spectrometers.     

Solar irradiance forecast and far-side imaging

This paper presents a new approach to forecasting short-term Lyα solar irradiance variations due to the presence and evolution of magnetically heated regions in the Sun’s outer atmosphere. This scheme is based on images of the solar disk at key wavelengths, currently Ca II K filtergrams, maps of backscattered solar Lyα from the interplanetary medium, and helioseismic images of large far-side active regions. The combination of these resources allows accurate forecasts of the UV solar irradiance several days in advance. The technique takes into consideration the evolution of recently observed activity on the Sun’s near surface as well as active regions on the Sun’s far side. The far-side helioseismic maps and the Lyα backscattering are very important, because of the long period of time features spend on the Sun’s far side compared with their typical evolution time and their relatively sudden appearance on the near side. We describe the basics of the forecasting technique and apply it to a case study that shows how the technique dramatically improves Lyα irradiance forecasting. An extension of the technique described here promises realistic forecasts of the entire FUV/EUV solar spectral irradiance spectrum.     

Current status of X-ray spectrometer development in the SELENE project

The X-ray spectrometer (XRS) on the SELENE (SELenological and ENgineering Explorer) spacecraft, XRS, will observe fluorescent X-rays from the lunar surface. The energy of the fluorescent X-ray depends on the elements of which the lunar soil consists, therefore we can determine elemental composition of the upper most lunar surface. The XRS consists of three components: XRF-A, SOL-B, and SOL-C. XRF-A is the main sensor to observe X-rays from the lunar surface. SOL-B is direct monitor of Solar X-ray using Si-PIN photodiode. SOL-C is another Solar X-ray monitor but observes the X-rays from the standard sample attached on the base plate. This enables us to analyze by a comparative method similar to typical laboratory XRF methods. XRF-A and SOL-C adopt charge coupled device as an X-ray detector which depletion layer is deep enough to detect X-rays. The X-ray spectra were obtained by the flight model of XRS components, and all components has been worked well to analyze fluorescent X-rays. Currently, development of the hardware and software of the XRS has been finished and we are preparing for system integration test for the launch.     

月面克里普岩成分特征及REE等资源开发利用前景

克里普岩(KREEP)最早发现于Apollo-12样品，后来在所有返月样品中都发现3克里普岩碎片，尤其以Apolio-12和Apolio-14着陆点样品中最多，因其富含元素K1REE和P而被称之为KREEP．克里普岩在月面上的分布极为重要，不但因其对月壳形成期间及形成以后的月球的演化具有重要的意义，而且由于克里普岩中富含REE等重要资源性元素，被认为可能是除钛铁矿外最重要的月球矿产资源储存库．本文在综合已有探测资料和研究成果的基础上，通过克里普岩的化学成分与矿物组成特征，Th在风暴洋区丰度的异常特征，以及克里普岩中Th与REE相关关系的分析，探讨了KREEP岩石在月面上的分布区域，进而对月球REE资源的开发利用前景进行了初步评估．     

Analysis of the brightness temperature features of the lunar surface using 37 GHz channel data from the Chang'E-2 microwave radiometer

Compared with other remote observations, brightness temperatures (T_B) derived from microwave emission measurements provide a unique means to characterize the physical properties of the lunar surface. Using Chang’E-2 microwave radiometer data, we produced 12 global T_B images of the lunar surface during a diurnal cycle with different local times separated by approximately 2?h. There are two types of remarkable T_B units on the lunar surface, the “hot regions” occurring during the lunar day in the lunar Maria regions and the “microwave cold spots” occurring during the nighttime typically related to young craters. Compared with their surroundings, the hot regions are much warmer during the lunar day and slightly colder at night, while the microwave cold spots are much colder during the lunar night and slightly warmer in the daytime. Moreover, the T_B heating and cooling rates of these two units are larger than others at the same average latitude where they are located during the lunar day, especially after sunrise and before sunset. The hot regions have a good agreement with the mare regions with high TiO₂ abundance. Besides, brightness temperatures in the lunar Maria correlate closely with their TiO₂ abundance. For most microwave cold spots, they agree with the young craters, and their brightness temperature distributions have a significant negative correlation with the lunar surface nighttime temperature and rock abundance.     

极月轨道上太阳电池阵外热流规律分析

准确的月球表面温度分布模型对于开展月球探测具有重要意义. 目前有关月球表面温 度模型还缺乏对完整月球表面温度分布的计算方法研究. 本文建立了一套计算完整月球表面温度的方法, 其中月球阳面温度采用Racca模型直接计算得到; 对于月球阴面, 将其沿纬度方向划分为若干区域, 每个区域的地表土壤采用一维非稳态热传导模型, 根据嫦娥三号着陆器太阳电池阵在轨环月阶段的温度数据, 修正得到月球表面土壤导热系数、密度及比热容, 通过数值计算求解一维非稳态热传导方程, 得出任意时刻月球阴面表面温度随时间的变化. 嫦娥三号着陆器太阳电池阵环月阶段热分析结果与在轨温度符合较好, 初步说明本文建立的完整月球表面温度计算方法正确可行. 基于本文方法计算得到整个月球表面温度分布, 进一步研究了极月轨道太阳电池阵外热流变化规律.      

嫦娥三号着陆器有效载荷

嫦娥三号着陆器配置了地形地貌相机、月基光学望远镜、极紫外相机、降落相机等四种科学探测有效载荷.介绍了有效载荷的科学探测任务、系统设计方案和系统组成,描述了各有效载荷的方案设计和主要技术指标等.      

近月空间带电粒子环境——“嫦娥1号”“嫦娥2号”观测结果

“嫦娥1号”（CE-1）、“嫦娥2号”（CE-2）都安装了1台太阳高能粒子探测器（High-energetic ParticlesDetectors,HPD）和2台太阳风离子探测器（Solar Wind Ion Detectors,SWIDs）,进行了月球轨道200 km和100 km空间环境探测,获得了月球轨道空间高能带电粒子（质子、电子和重离子）能谱随时间的演化特征、等离子体与月球相互作用特征以及太阳风离子速度、密度和温度参量。空间环境探测数据分析结果表明：太阳活动低年、空间环境扰动水平相对较低、月球处于太阳风中时,近月空间带电粒子环境的基本特征与行星际空间相比变化不大。CE-1、CE-2在轨运行期间,发现了多起0.1～2 MeV能量电子急剧增加事件,这些事件发生在月球从太阳风运动到磁尾的所有空间区域,其中20%的事件伴随着卫星周围等离子体离子加速。模拟和统计研究表明：能量电子急剧增加使得绕月卫星和月球表面电位大幅下降导致了离子加速现象的发生;能量电子总流量大于10¹¹ cm^-2时,绕月卫星和月球表面充电电位可达负的上千伏。此外,月表溅射与反射太阳风离子、太阳风“拾起”离子等空间环境事件的发现,揭示了太阳风离子和月球存在复杂的相互作用过程。     

Investigation of the atmospheric aerosols by the visible and IR channels of the AVHRR radiometer on NOAA-6

The diffusely reflected radiation in the daytime and diffusely transmitted radiation at night from an inhomogeneous, plane parallel planetary atmosphere bounded by the ocean surface was calculated at the visible and IR region. In the daytime the effect of the solar radiation from top was taken into account. The present study has dealt with the problem of no cloud contamination in data. In the atmosphere, water vapor, molecular nitrogen, nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide and methane as absorbent constituents and aerosols as the scattering constituent were taken into account. The ocean surface as a lower boundary was simulated by many facets whose slopes are according to the isotropic Gaussian distribution [1]. It was found that it is suitable for deriving the total optical thickness in the direction of about 15 degrees away from the specular direction at 3.7μm in the daytime, with the aid of visible region of spectrum [2]. As for sea surface temperature, for a sample analysis, derived SST was within the accuracy of 1–2K at the center of the sun glint and within the accuracy of 0.5K in the rest of the region at 3.7μm in the daytime, Furthermore computational results suggest that the comparison of temperature in the daytime with that at night at 3.7μm make it possible to separate the effect of aerosols from the total optical thickness. Thus it was found from the computations that with the aid of daytime and night time data, it is possible to derive the atmospheric water vapor, aerosols and sea surface temperature simultaneously.     

Microwave Brightness Temperature and Lunar Son Dielectric Property Retrieve

Among many scientific objectives of lunar exploration, investigations on lunar soil become more and more attractive to the scientists duo to the existence of abundant 3He and ilmenite in the lunar soil and their possible utilization. Although the soil composition determination on the lunar surface is available by visible light spectrometer, γ/X-ray spectrometer etc, the evaluations on the total reserves of 3He and ilmenite in the lunar deep and on the thickness of the lunar soil are still impossible so far. In this paper, the authors first give a rough analysis of the microwave brightness temperature images of the lunar disc observed using the NRAO 12 Meter Telescope and Siberian Solar Radio Telescope; then introduce our researches on the microwave dielectric properties of lunar soil simulators; finally, discuss some basic relations between the microwave brightness temperature and lunar soil properties.