Space Weathering Effects in Troilite by Simulated Solar-Wind Hydrogen and Helium Ion Irradiation.

ABSTRACT: Space weathering is a key process in the interpretation of airless planetary surfaces. As we engage new missions to planetary objects with potentially novel surfaces such as 16 Psyche, there is renewed interest in expanding our knowledge of space weathering effects to a wider variety of analog materials, including the physical/chemical effects of solar-wind ions on planetary regoliths. We have experimentally simulated the effects of solar ions on two polished thick sections of meteoritic troilite (FeS) via irradiation with 1 keV hydrogen (H⁺) and 4 keV helium (He⁺), to investigate effects resulting from different ion species. We detected depletion of sulfur over the course of each irradiation using in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Sulfur depletion rates were

SUBMITTER: Christoph JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9287097 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature