Expected extreme ultraviolet spectrum of the lunar surface

Journal Article · Fri Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/91GL02542· OSTI ID:7235478

Edwards, B C; Priedhorsky, W C; Smith, B W ^[1]

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1. Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)

The moon was recently observed to be a source of very soft x-ray emission. The emission was most intense at wavelengths longer than 62 {angstrom} and was attributed to Thomson scattering of solar x-rays. This observation prompted the authors to study the emissions expected from the lunar surface in the wavelength range between 90 and 500 {angstrom}. Photons in this wavelength range scatter inefficiently. Instead, the solar x-rays are absorbed in the first several microns of lunar regolith. The absorbed x-rays can excite the surface elements and result in fluorescent emission. The authors find that much of the L- and M-shell extreme ultraviolet fluorescence, in the wavelength range between 90 and 500 {angstrom}, have higher peak intensities than the scattered solar spectrum. The total integrated fluorescent emission is also higher than the total scattered solar radiation. The L-shell fluorescent radiation can be an indicator of the surface abundances of Si, Al, Mg and other major lunar elements.

• OSTI ID: 7235478
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States), Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States) Vol. 18:11; ISSN GPRLA; ISSN 0094-8276
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

661300* -- Other Aspects of Physical Science-- (1992-)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ABSORPTION
ABUNDANCE
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
ALUMINIUM
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENT ABUNDANCE
ELEMENTS
EXTREME ULTRAVIOLET SPECTRA
FLUORESCENCE
IONIZING RADIATIONS
LUMINESCENCE
MAGNESIUM
METALS
MOON
RADIATIONS
SATELLITES
SCATTERING
SEMIMETALS
SILICON
SOFT X RADIATION
SOLAR RADIATION
SORPTION
SPECTRA
STELLAR RADIATION
ULTRAVIOLET SPECTRA
X RADIATION