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PI : Wataru Fujiya

Title : Irradiation history and solar wind composition recorded in the HAYABUSA samples inferred from light element and noble gas analyses

Abstract

We plan to carry out a combined analysis of lithium-, beryllium-, boron-, and nitrogen isotopes, and noble gases including krypton and xenon. Because the HAYABUSA samples are derived from an asteroid surface, signatures of implanted solar wind and cosmogenic products are expected to be detected. These light elements and noble gases are ideal tools for investigation of irradiation processes by solar wind and cosmic rays because they show highly distinct isotopic compositions with respect to different origins. Also, solar wind compositions of the light elements could shed light on spallation reactions caused by solar energetic particles in the Sun’s photosphere or their interstellar origins. The analysis will be conducted at Max-Planck-Institut für Chemie involving two laboratories in the institute. For Li-, Be-, B- and N-isotope measurements we will use a NanoSIMS 50, a high sensitivity and high spatial resolution Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometer (SIMS), while noble gas analyses will be performed with a high sensitivity Noblesse noble gas mass spectrometer with multi-ion counting collection.

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