Full metadata
Title
Strange New Worlds: Development of Active Nuclear Technologies and Techniques for Planetary Science Applications
Description
Information about the elemental composition of a planetary surface can be determined using nuclear instrumentation such as gamma-ray and neutron spectrometers (GRNS). High-energy Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCRs) resulting from cosmic super novae isotropically bombard the surfaces of planetary bodies in space. When GCRs interact with a body’s surface, they can liberate neutrons in a process called spallation, resulting in neutrons and gamma rays being emitted from the planet’s surface; how GCRs and source particles (i.e. active neutron generators) interact with nearby nuclei defines the nuclear environment. In this work I describe the development of nuclear detection systems and techniques for future orbital and landed missions, as well as the implications of nuclear environments on a non-silicate (icy) planetary body. This work aids in the development of future NASA and international missions by presenting many of the capabilities and limitations of nuclear detection systems for a variety of planetary bodies (Earth, the Moon, metallic asteroids, icy moons). From bench top experiments to theoretical simulations, from geochemical hypotheses to instrument calibrations—nuclear planetary science is a challenging and rapidly expanding multidisciplinary field. In this work (1) I describe ground-truth verification of the neutron die-away method using a new type of elpasolite (Cs2YLiCl6:Ce) scintillator, (2) I explore the potential use of temporal neutron measurements on the surface of Titan through Monte-Carlo simulation models, and (3) I report on the experimental spatial efficiency and calibration details of the miniature neutron spectrometer (Mini-NS) on board the NASA LunaH-Map mission. This work presents a subset of planetary nuclear science and its many challenges in humanity's ongoing effort to explore strange new worlds.
Date Created
2022
Contributors
- Heffern, Lena Elizabeth (Author)
- Hardgrove, Craig (Thesis advisor)
- Elkins-Tanton, Linda (Committee member)
- Parsons, Ann (Committee member)
- Garvie, Laurence (Committee member)
- Holbert, Keith (Committee member)
- Lyons, James (Committee member)
- Arizona State University (Publisher)
Topical Subject
Resource Type
Extent
249 pages
Language
eng
Copyright Statement
In Copyright
Primary Member of
Peer-reviewed
No
Open Access
No
Handle
https://hdl.handle.net/2286/R.2.N.171826
Level of coding
minimal
Cataloging Standards
Note
Partial requirement for: Ph.D., Arizona State University, 2022
Field of study: Exploration Systems Design
System Created
- 2022-12-20 06:19:18
System Modified
- 2022-12-20 06:19:18
- 1 year 11 months ago
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