Crater age and hydrogen content in lunar regolith from LEND neutron data

Richard D. Starr; Maxim L. Litvak; Noah E. Petro; Igor G. Mitrofanov; William V. Boynton; Gordon Chin; Timothy A. Livengood; Timothy P. McClanahan; Anton B. Sanin; Roald Z. Sagdeev; Jao J. Su

doi:10.1016/j.pss.2017.08.001

Crater age and hydrogen content in lunar regolith from LEND neutron data

Richard D. Starr, Maxim L. Litvak, Noah E. Petro, Igor G. Mitrofanov, William V. Boynton, Gordon Chin, Timothy A. Livengood, Timothy P. McClanahan, Anton B. Sanin, Roald Z. Sagdeev, Jao J. Su

Lunar and Planetary Lab

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Analysis of Lunar Exploration Neutron Detector (LEND) neutron count rates for a large set of mid-latitude craters provides evidence for lower hydrogen content in the crater interiors compared to typical highland values. Epithermal neutron count rates for crater interiors measured by the LEND Sensor for Epithermal Neutrons (SETN) were compared to crater exteriors for 301 craters and displayed an increase in mean count rate at the ∼9-σ confidence level, consistent with a lower hydrogen content. A smaller subset of 31 craters also shows a significant increase in Optical Maturity parameter implying an immature regolith. The increase in SETN count rate for these craters is greater than the increase for the full set of craters by more than a factor of two.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	105-112
Number of pages	8
Journal	Planetary and Space Science
Volume	162
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pss.2017.08.001
State	Published - Nov 1 2018

Keywords

Epithermal neutrons
Hydrogen
Impact craters
LEND
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.1016/j.pss.2017.08.001

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title = "Crater age and hydrogen content in lunar regolith from LEND neutron data",

abstract = "Analysis of Lunar Exploration Neutron Detector (LEND) neutron count rates for a large set of mid-latitude craters provides evidence for lower hydrogen content in the crater interiors compared to typical highland values. Epithermal neutron count rates for crater interiors measured by the LEND Sensor for Epithermal Neutrons (SETN) were compared to crater exteriors for 301 craters and displayed an increase in mean count rate at the ∼9-σ confidence level, consistent with a lower hydrogen content. A smaller subset of 31 craters also shows a significant increase in Optical Maturity parameter implying an immature regolith. The increase in SETN count rate for these craters is greater than the increase for the full set of craters by more than a factor of two.",

keywords = "Epithermal neutrons, Hydrogen, Impact craters, LEND, Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter",

author = "Starr, {Richard D.} and Litvak, {Maxim L.} and Petro, {Noah E.} and Mitrofanov, {Igor G.} and Boynton, {William V.} and Gordon Chin and Livengood, {Timothy A.} and McClanahan, {Timothy P.} and Sanin, {Anton B.} and Sagdeev, {Roald Z.} and Su, {Jao J.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2017 Elsevier Ltd",

year = "2018",

month = nov,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1016/j.pss.2017.08.001",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "162",

pages = "105--112",

journal = "Planetary and Space Science",

issn = "0032-0633",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Crater age and hydrogen content in lunar regolith from LEND neutron data

AU - Starr, Richard D.

AU - Litvak, Maxim L.

AU - Petro, Noah E.

AU - Mitrofanov, Igor G.

AU - Boynton, William V.

AU - Chin, Gordon

AU - Livengood, Timothy A.

AU - McClanahan, Timothy P.

AU - Sanin, Anton B.

AU - Sagdeev, Roald Z.

AU - Su, Jao J.

PY - 2018/11/1

Y1 - 2018/11/1

N2 - Analysis of Lunar Exploration Neutron Detector (LEND) neutron count rates for a large set of mid-latitude craters provides evidence for lower hydrogen content in the crater interiors compared to typical highland values. Epithermal neutron count rates for crater interiors measured by the LEND Sensor for Epithermal Neutrons (SETN) were compared to crater exteriors for 301 craters and displayed an increase in mean count rate at the ∼9-σ confidence level, consistent with a lower hydrogen content. A smaller subset of 31 craters also shows a significant increase in Optical Maturity parameter implying an immature regolith. The increase in SETN count rate for these craters is greater than the increase for the full set of craters by more than a factor of two.

AB - Analysis of Lunar Exploration Neutron Detector (LEND) neutron count rates for a large set of mid-latitude craters provides evidence for lower hydrogen content in the crater interiors compared to typical highland values. Epithermal neutron count rates for crater interiors measured by the LEND Sensor for Epithermal Neutrons (SETN) were compared to crater exteriors for 301 craters and displayed an increase in mean count rate at the ∼9-σ confidence level, consistent with a lower hydrogen content. A smaller subset of 31 craters also shows a significant increase in Optical Maturity parameter implying an immature regolith. The increase in SETN count rate for these craters is greater than the increase for the full set of craters by more than a factor of two.

KW - Epithermal neutrons

KW - Hydrogen

KW - Impact craters

KW - LEND

KW - Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter

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U2 - 10.1016/j.pss.2017.08.001

DO - 10.1016/j.pss.2017.08.001

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85044751925

SN - 0032-0633

VL - 162

SP - 105

EP - 112

JO - Planetary and Space Science

JF - Planetary and Space Science

ER -

Crater age and hydrogen content in lunar regolith from LEND neutron data

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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