LABORATORY SIMULATION OF LUNAR LUMINESCENCE WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO METEORITIC MATERIAL.
Abstract
Apparatus is described for the irradiation of powdered rock samples with protons or UV radiation. The spectrum of any resulting luminescence emission is scanned by a photoelectric grating spectrophotometer. Material from meteorites of several different classes has been found to luminesce under proton excitation: UV radiation is relatively ineffective. The spectra of 20 of them are given and are found to be characteristic of the class of meteorite. The efficiencies fall into 3 groups, the most efficient being the enstatite achondrites at about 1%; these have a bright red emission peak at 6700A and a fainter blue one at 4000A. The enstatite constituent is responsible for the luminescence, but the emission may be predominantly red or blue depending on the manganese content. The spectrum has been reproduced using synthetic samples. Proton damage effects and recovery processes are discussed; spectral changes after damage are also characteristic of the class. The relevance of this type of luminescent material to lunar luminescence is discussed; thermoluminescence of the same type of material may be more relevant than directly excited luminescence. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1967
- Accession Number
- AD0669327
Entities
People
- G. Walker
- J. E. Geake
- M. D. Lumb
Organizations
- Manchester University