On the application of magnetic methods for the characterisation of space weathering products

Space-Weathering of Solar System Bodies: A Laboratory Perspective

“…The author also presents the information collected so far on real impacts on icy bodies, such as satellites of outer planets and comet nuclei, while discussing the physical problems that complicate the outcomes of impact events such as the porosity of target bodies. Laboratory techniques and their parameters used to investigate impact-induced processes are described by Bentley . The techniques include flyer plate experiments (e.g., Knudson et al), light gas guns (e.g., Chhabildas et al), electrostatic accelerators, and pulsed lasers.…”

“…Van de Graaff (VdG) accelerators are capable of accelerating dust to tens of kilometers per second, but their electrostatic nature limits the choices of projectile materials to those that can be charged or are coated with a material that can be charged. Coating the particles with a conductive material (often gold) may also alter the interpreted results . New electrospray techniques have been be used by Daly et al to charge uncoated mineral grains, mineral–ice aggregates, and astrophysical ices, which open avenues for experiments relevant to planetary science.…”

“…A comprehensive numerical model presenting the effects of various nanosecond-pulsed laser parameters on the heating, melting, vaporization, and plasma formation in the plume of metallic targets was developed by Bogaerts and Chen . The rationale for choosing particular laser parameters to simulate aspects of meteoroid bombardment is discussed in Bentley et al, and highlights that not all aspects of a micrometeoroid impact can be simulated by a specific laser power or pulse duration. For example, Kissel and Krueger evaluated that the yields of ionization and vaporization induced by an impact of a 1 μm diameter particle at 15 km s –1 would be best reproduced by a nanosecond-pulsed laser with an irradiation flux of about 10 8 –10 9 W cm –2 on a focal spot of 1 μm diameter (100 nJ pulse –1 ).…”

“…Laboratory techniques and their parameters used to investigate impact-induced processes are described by Bentley. 734 The techniques include flyer plate experiments (e.g., Knudson et al 735 ), light gas guns (e.g., Chhabildas et al 736 ), electrostatic accelerators, and pulsed lasers. Light gas guns (LGG) are limited by the ultimate velocities that can be obtained (up to 10−20 km s −1 ), 736 but they can fire almost any material.…”

“…Coating the particles with a conductive material (often gold) may also alter the interpreted results. 734 New electrospray techniques have been be used by Daly et al 737 to charge uncoated mineral grains, mineral−ice aggregates, and astrophysical ices, which open avenues for experiments relevant to planetary science. The physical and chemical processes occurring during the excavation of a crater, the propagated shockwave which heats the surrounding material, as well as their simulation using these techniques, have been reviewed extensively by Gerasimov et al 738 The impact-induced deformation, transformation, and decomposition phenomena in minerals are also well-documented (e.g., Langenhorst 739 and Gillet and Goresi 740 ).…”