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Active Neutron and Gamma-Ray Instrumentation for In Situ Planetary Science ApplicationsWe describe the development of an instrument capable of detailed in situ bulk geochemical analysis of the surface of planets, moons, asteroids, and comets. This instrument technology uses a pulsed neutron generator to excite the solid materials of a planet and measures the resulting neutron and gamma-ray emission with its detector system. These time-resolved neutron and gamma-ray data provide detailed information about the bulk elemental composition, chemical context, and density distribution of the soil within 50 cm of the surface. While active neutron scattering and neutron-induced gamma-ray techniques have been used extensively for terrestrial nuclear well logging applications, our goal is to apply these techniques to surface instruments for use on any solid solar system body. As described, experiments at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center use a prototype neutron-induced gamma-ray instrument and the resulting data presented show the promise of this technique for becoming a versatile, robust, workhorse technology for planetary science, and exploration of any of the solid bodies in the solar system. The detection of neutrons at the surface also provides useful information about the material. This paper focuses on the data provided by the gamma-ray detector.
Document ID
20120010121
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Parsons, A.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Bodnarik, J.
(Vanderbilt Univ. Nashville, TN, United States)
Evans, L.
(Computer Sciences Corp. Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Floyd, A.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Lim, L.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
McClanahan, T.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Namkung, M.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Nowicki, S.
(Michigan Univ. Ann Arbor, MI, United States)
Schweitzer, J.
(Connecticut Univ. CT, United States)
Starr, R.
(Catholic Univ. of America Washington, DC, United States)
Trombka, J.
(Maryland Univ. MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
October 1, 2011
Publication Information
Publication: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Volume: 652
Issue: 1
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Report/Patent Number
GSFC.JA.00159.2012
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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