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Estimates of Sputter Yields of Solar-Wind Heavy Ions of Lunar Regolith MaterialsAt energies of approximately 1 keV/amu, solar-wind protons and heavy ions interact with the lunar surface materials via a number of microscopic interactions that include sputtering. Solar-wind induced sputtering is a main mechanism by which the composition of the topmost layers of the lunar surface can change, dynamically and preferentially. This work concentrates on sputtering induced by solar-wind heavy ions. Sputtering associated with slow (speeds the electrons speed in its first Bohr orbit) and highly charged ions are known to include both kinetic and potential sputtering. Potential sputtering enjoys some unique characteristics that makes it of special interest to lunar science and exploration. Unlike the yield from kinetic sputtering where simulation and approximation schemes exist, the yield from potential sputtering is not as easy to estimate. This work will present a preliminary numerical scheme designed to estimate potential sputtering yields from reactions relevant to this aspect of solar-wind lunar-surface coupling.
Document ID
20090014845
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Barghouty, Abdulmasser F.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Adams, James H., Jr.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
August 24, 2013
Publication Date
September 9, 2008
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Report/Patent Number
MSFC-2176
Meeting Information
Meeting: American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting 2008
Location: San Francisco, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: December 15, 2008
End Date: December 19, 2008
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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