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PI : Akira Tsuchiyama

Title : Studies of surface processes on Itokawa by systematic examination of surface features of Itokawa regolith particles.

Abstract

Initial analysis of Itokawa regolith particles has found two types of surface processes on Itokawa; (1) formation of space weathering rim on the particle surfaces, which is responsible for modification of reflectance spectrum of S-type asteroids, and (2) particle abrasion called space erosion. It has been proposed that the former is mainly caused by irradiation of solar wind particles of He with relatively short time scale (~103 yr), while the latter probably by grain motion due to impact-induced seismic waves with longer time scale (>10 yr). In order to confirm these processes, in this proposal, each Itokawa particle is examined systematically and sequentially from non-destructive to destructive analyses using micro-tomography for three-dimensional structure and surface micro-morphology, FE-SEM for surface nano-morphology, XRD and EPMA for mineralogy, STEM/TEM for space weathering rim observation, SIMS and gas mass spectrometry for noble gas isotope measurement. The present research will give comprehensive understanding of surface processes on the asteroid.

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