To approach basic scientific questions on the origin and evolution of plan- etary bodies such as planets, their satellites and asteroids, one needs data on their chemical composition. The measurements of gamma-rays, X...To approach basic scientific questions on the origin and evolution of plan- etary bodies such as planets, their satellites and asteroids, one needs data on their chemical composition. The measurements of gamma-rays, X-rays and neutrons emit- ted from their surface materials provide information on abundances of major elements and naturally radioactive gamma-ray emitters. Neutron spectroscopy can provide sen- sitive maps of hydrogen- and carbon-containing compounds, even if buried, and can uniquely identify layers of carbon-dioxide frost. Nuclear spectroscopy, as a means of compositional analysis, has been applied via orbital and lander spacecraft to extrater- restrial planetary bodies： the Moon, Venus, Mars, Mercury and asteroids. The knowl- edge of their chemical abundances, especially concerning the Moon and Mars, has greatly increased in recent years. This paper describes the principle of nuclear spec- troscopy, nuclear planetary instruments carried on planetary missions so far, and the nature of observational results and findings of the Moon and Mars, recently obtained by nuclear spectroscopy.展开更多
基金supported by the Korea-Japan International Cooperative Research Program funded by the Korean Research Fund (F01-2009-000-100540-0, 10-6303)KIGAM’s Internal Project (12-3612) funded by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy
文摘To approach basic scientific questions on the origin and evolution of plan- etary bodies such as planets, their satellites and asteroids, one needs data on their chemical composition. The measurements of gamma-rays, X-rays and neutrons emit- ted from their surface materials provide information on abundances of major elements and naturally radioactive gamma-ray emitters. Neutron spectroscopy can provide sen- sitive maps of hydrogen- and carbon-containing compounds, even if buried, and can uniquely identify layers of carbon-dioxide frost. Nuclear spectroscopy, as a means of compositional analysis, has been applied via orbital and lander spacecraft to extrater- restrial planetary bodies： the Moon, Venus, Mars, Mercury and asteroids. The knowl- edge of their chemical abundances, especially concerning the Moon and Mars, has greatly increased in recent years. This paper describes the principle of nuclear spec- troscopy, nuclear planetary instruments carried on planetary missions so far, and the nature of observational results and findings of the Moon and Mars, recently obtained by nuclear spectroscopy.
