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Science 17 July 1970:
Vol. 169. no. 3942, pp. 278 - 280
DOI: 10.1126/science.169.3942.278
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Articles

Lunar Atmosphere as a Source of Argon-40 and Other Lunar Surface Elements

R. H. Manka 1 and F. C. Michel 2

1 Space Physics Division, Manned Spacecraft Center, Houston, Texas 77058
2 Space Science Department, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77001

The lunar atmosphere is the likely source of excess argon-40 in lunar surface material; about 8.5 percent of the argon-40 released into the lunar atmosphere will be implanted in the surface material by photoionization and subsequent interaction with fields in the solar wind. The atmosphere is also likely to be the source of other unexpected surface elements or of solar wind elements that impact from non-solar wind directions.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Surface-Related Mercury in Lunar Samples.
G. W. Reed, G. W. Reed, J. A. Goleb, and S. Jovanovic (1971)
Science 172, 258-261
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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)