Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - A photometric investigation of the packing state of apollo 11 lunar regolith samples
AU - Wilson, L.
PY - 1973/1
Y1 - 1973/1
N2 - The angular light scattering properties of an Apollo 11 lunar regolith 'fines' sample have been determined experimentally for both flat and undulating sample surface preparations. The light scattering curves, whose shapes are known to be a function of the porosity and slope distribution of the measured surface, have been compared with corresponding Earth-based lunar measurements. The comparison method involves the numerical fitting of theoretical photometric functions to both the astronomical and laboratory data. It is deduced that regolith material can, under favourable circumstances, maintain a very underdense structure (porosity of the surface layer greater than 90 per cent) in air, so that vacuum cold-welding is not essential in the formation of such a structure. Photometric scanning is shown to provide a rapid method of determining the effective porosity of regolith sample surfaces in the laboratory.
AB - The angular light scattering properties of an Apollo 11 lunar regolith 'fines' sample have been determined experimentally for both flat and undulating sample surface preparations. The light scattering curves, whose shapes are known to be a function of the porosity and slope distribution of the measured surface, have been compared with corresponding Earth-based lunar measurements. The comparison method involves the numerical fitting of theoretical photometric functions to both the astronomical and laboratory data. It is deduced that regolith material can, under favourable circumstances, maintain a very underdense structure (porosity of the surface layer greater than 90 per cent) in air, so that vacuum cold-welding is not essential in the formation of such a structure. Photometric scanning is shown to provide a rapid method of determining the effective porosity of regolith sample surfaces in the laboratory.
U2 - 10.1016/0032-0633(73)90023-8
DO - 10.1016/0032-0633(73)90023-8
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:49349132299
VL - 21
SP - 113
EP - 118
JO - Planetary and Space Science
JF - Planetary and Space Science
SN - 0032-0633
IS - 1
ER -