Grice A M, Stancil P C, Ghafariasl M, Singh S, Gamage S, Schaible M J, Abate Y, Lang K, Orlando T M
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
Center for Simulational Physics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
Sci Rep. 2025 Jan 2;15(1):301. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-83392-6.
Nanoscale Fourier transform infrared (Nano-FTIR) imaging and spectroscopy correlated with photoluminescence measurements of lunar Apollo samples with different surface radiation exposure histories reveal distinct physical and chemical differences associated with space weathering effects. Analysis of two sample fragments: an ilmenite basalt (12016) and an impact melt breccia (15445) show evidence of intrinsic or delivered Nd and an amorphous silica glass component on exterior surfaces, whereas intrinsic Cr and/or trapped electron states are limited to interior surfaces. Spatially localized 1050 cm/935 cm band ratios in Nano-FTIR hyperspectral maps may further reflect impact-induced shock nanostructures, while shifts in silicate band positions indicate accumulated radiation damage at the nanoscale from prolonged space weathering due to micrometeorites, solar wind, energetic x-rays and cosmic ray bombardment. Our observations demonstrate that space weathering alterations of the surface of lunar samples at the nanoscale may provide a mechanism to distinguish lunar samples of variable surface exposure age.
纳米级傅里叶变换红外（Nano-FTIR）成像与光谱分析，结合对具有不同表面辐射暴露历史的月球阿波罗样品的光致发光测量，揭示了与空间风化效应相关的明显物理和化学差异。对两个样品碎片的分析：钛铁矿玄武岩（12016）和撞击熔结角砾岩（15445）表明，在外表面存在固有或外来的钕以及无定形二氧化硅玻璃成分的证据，而固有铬和/或捕获电子态仅限于内表面。Nano-FTIR高光谱图中的空间局部1050厘米/935厘米波段比率可能进一步反映撞击诱导的冲击纳米结构，而硅酸盐波段位置的变化表明由于微陨石、太阳风、高能X射线和宇宙射线轰击导致的长期空间风化在纳米尺度上积累的辐射损伤。我们的观察表明，月球样品表面在纳米尺度上的空间风化改变可能提供一种区分具有不同表面暴露年龄的月球样品的机制。
