Engineering topics
Publications and source records attributed to Trombka, J. I..
The transearth coast period of the Apollo 16 mission provided an opportunity to study the astronomical sources of gamma radiation. This experiment was used to aid compositional identification for geochemical mapping of the lunar surface.
The X-ray fluorescence spectrometer, carried in the scientific instrument module bay of the command and service module, was used for orbital mapping of the lunar surface composition and X-ray galactic observations during transearth coast. The lunar surface measurements involved observations of the intensity and characteristic energy distribution of the secondary or fluorescent X-rays produced by the interaction of solar X-rays with the lunar surface. The astronomical observations consisted of relatively long periods of X-ray measurement of preselected galactic sources such as Cygnus (Cyg X-1) and Scorpius (Sco X-1).
Preliminary review of data from the radioactivity relief map of the regions of the moon overflown by the Apollo 15 command module. The data represent count rates in the energy band from 0.55 to 2.75 MeV, appropriately corrected and averaged. Review results include the findings that: (1) the major concentrations of radioactivity in the area covered are in the region of Mare Imbrium and Oceanus Procellarum, (2) the highest regions are in the area of Aristarchus in Oceanus Procellarum and a region in eastern Mare Imbrium, and (3) the K/U ratio appears to be lower everywhere than that characteristic of the earth.-
Isotropic cosmic gamma ray flux, discussing extragalactic point sources detection by high resolution spectrometers
Galactic and extragalactic origin of cosmic gamma ray flux between 1 and 6 MeV
Origin and isotropy of cosmic gamma ray flux between 1 and 6 MeV and its implications of future gamma ray investigations
Combined X ray fluorescence and neutron excitation for obtaining rapid lunar and planetary surface element analysis
Comparing intrinsic efficiencies of spherical NaI /Tl/ detectors with efficiencies of cylindrical NaI/Tl/ detectors
Cosmic X ray and gamma ray spectral energy distribution slope change explained by measurement process involving photon spectrum
Book on geochemical exploration of moon and planets covering orbital, compositional and surface studies, Apollo missions, Lunar Receiving Laboratories and data processing
Continuous differential energy pulse height spectra reduction to photon upper atmospheric spectra
Mobile geochemical laboratory for in situ radiation measurement and elemental analyses in lunar exploration
Measured pulse height spectra for photon spectra and instrumental error reduction
On-line digital analysis of geochemical spectra data
Nondispersive X-ray emission technique uses lightweight, and rugged X-ray fluorescence units. The X-ray pulse-height spectra is excited by radioactive isotope sources. The technique is applicable for quantitative and qualitative analyses on complex chemical systems, and satisfies the goals for a lunar geochemical exploration device.
Spectral measurement from detectors for true 0.1 to 10 Mev gamma ray data
Detection and analysis of lunar radiation from orbiter for chemical composition
Neutron gamma activation methods for determining chemical composition of soil samples