METEORITES AS SPACE PROBES FOR TESTING THE SPATIAL CONSTANCY OF COSMIC RADIATION
An experiment was penformed to test the spatial constancy of cosmic radiation within the solar system by measuring a short-lived and long-lived cosmic-rayinduced radioactivity in a recently fallen stone meteorite. The measurement was performed on the Hamlet chondrite that fell in Indiana on October 13, 1959. The ratio of the 35-day Ar/sup 37/ to the 325-year Ar/sup 39/ was found to be 2.0 plus or minus 0.3. The relative production rates for these isotopes were determined by bombarding the meteorite with 3-Bev protons. The ratio of the Ar/sup 37/ to Ar/sup 39/ production rates was found to be 1.5 plus or minus 0.2. Since the ratios were the same within experimental uncertainty, it was concluded that the flux of cosmic radiation is constant in the space between the earth and the asteroidal belt. The Ar/sup 39/ contents of four other chondrites were measured. The values obtained were as follows: Richardton 7.1 plus or minus 0.6, Murray 9.4 plus or minus 0.5, Forest City 11.9 + 0.5, Benton 9.0 plus or minus 0.4, and Hamlet 7.8 plus or minus 0.2 dis/min/kg. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, N.Y.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- NSA Number:
- NSA-15-002030
- OSTI ID:
- 4155735
- Journal Information:
- J. Geophys. Research, Journal Name: J. Geophys. Research Vol. Vol: 65
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
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