Application of grazing incidence x-ray fluorescence technique to discriminate and quantify implanted solar wind

Journal Article · Sun Mar 15 00:00:00 EDT 2009 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3089229· OSTI ID:21190105

Kitts, K; Choi, Y ^[1]; Eng, P J; Ghose, S K; Sutton, S R ^[2]; Rout, B ^[3]

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1. Department of Geology and Environment Geosciences, Northern Illinois University, Davis Hall 312, Normal Road, DeKalb, Illinois 60115 (United States)
2. Department of Geophysical Sciences and Consortium for Advanced Radiation Sources, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637 (United States)
3. Department of Physics, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas 76203 (United States)

NASA launched the Genesis return mission to obtain pristine solar wind samples in order to better understand solar wind mechanics, solar physics, and solar system evolution. Unfortunately, the probe crash-landed shattering the collector plates necessitating the application of a grazing incidence x-ray fluorescence technique. This nondestructive methodology differentiates the terrestrial contamination from the low concentration implanted solar wind. Using this technique, the elemental depth distribution is obtained resulting in the determination of absolute solar wind elemental abundance. We describe this application and present the solar wind Fe concentration determination as an example.

• OSTI ID: 21190105
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 105, Issue 6; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3089229; (c) 2009 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ABUNDANCE
ASTRONOMY
FLUORESCENCE
NASA
SOLAR SYSTEM EVOLUTION
SOLAR WIND
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
X-RAY FLUORESCENCE ANALYSIS