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Fleischer, R. L.

Publications and source records attributed to Fleischer, R. L..

At least 37 records · Page 2

Investigations of lunar materials

The investigations were directed at determining the radiation history and surface chronology of lunar materials using the etched particle track technique. The major lunar materials studied are the igneous rocks and double core from Apollo 12, the breccia and soil samples from Apollo 14, and the core samples from Luna 16. In the course of this work two new and potentially important observations were made: (1) Cosmic ray-induced spallation-recoil tracks were identified. The density of such tracks, when compared with the density of tracks induced by a known flux of accelerator protons, yields the time of exposure of a sample within the top meter or two of moon's surface. (2) Natural, fine scale plastic deformation was found to have fragmented pre-existing charged particle tracks, allowing the dating of the mechanical event causing the deformation.

Comstock, G. M.

Very heavy solar cosmic rays: Energy spectrum and implications for lunar erosion

Particle tracks were investigated in the glass plate of a neutral density (clear flint) optical filter housed in the Surveyor 3 TV camera but exposed directly to space. The track density vs depth curve was determined and descends sharply from approximately 2.6 million tracks/sq cm at a depth of 3.6 mg/sq cm to about 35/sq cm at 700 mg/sq cm. Several tracks were of V-shapes characteristic of high energy induced fission. The erosion rate on the moon due to solar wind ions was determined from the energy spectrum, and was found to be low (0 to 2 x 10 to the minus 8th power cm/yr).

Fleischer, R. L.

The particle track record of the Sea of Plenty.

We have measured the particle track densities in 36 grains taken from two levels of the soil column returned from the Sea of Plenty by Luna 16. One sample is from near the surface, the other is from about 30 cm depth. All but one of the grains contained very high track densities. We conclude that all of the Luna 16 soil has been irradiated very close to the surface, that there has been little or no 'recent' admixture of previously shielded material from below 30 cm, and that the regolith is both unusually thin at the Luna 16 site and extremely old (about 3 b.y. and more).

Comstock, G. M.

Cosmic ray experiment. Part A: Composition and energy spectra of solar cosmic ray nuclei

The GE experiment consisted of two types of detectors: plastics and glasses located in panel 2 and the lower half of panel 3. In panel 2, the entire exposed detector area of 14.7 by 22.6 cm was composed of 31 sheets of 0.025-cm polycarbonate plastic 9070-112. In panel 3, 39 sheets of 0.02-cm cellulose triacetate with no plasticizer made up the major volume fraction. The lower part of panel 3 contained five types of glass detectors. Particles that entered the array after it was folded were recognized, if they crossed from one sheet to another, by means of a 2-mm relative shift of alternate sheets.

Fleischer, R. L.

The particle track record of Fra Mauro.

Apollo 14 breccias show a mixture of high and low track densities at most interior positions, indicating that the majority of the tracks have been inherited from the parent ingredients of the breccias. Using the lowest of these track densities as indicative of maximum postbrecciation surface residence times, we find a median 1.35 m.y., much younger than the less friable Apollo 11 and 12 igneous rocks. The igneous rock 14310 is studied as a part of a consortium, the results indicating a complex irradiation history. Soils are extremely variable, median track densities ranging over at least a factor of 200. Individual high density soil grains yield track density gradients having variable slopes, most of which are lower than expected from the Surveyor III filter glass results.

Hart, H. R., Jr.

Schenectady meteorite

Schenectady meteorite recovery, discussing mass, size, physical characteristics, cosmic ray track, crystalline structure and age

Carter, R. W.