The lunar terminator ionosphere

Abstract

The extended ionosphere is seen by the Suprathermal Ion Detector Experiments (SIDE) near the terminator. An analysis of the energy and mass spectra of these ions accelerated by the interplanetary electric field indicates the following: (1) the principal ion species are in the mass per unit charge ranges consistent with neon and argon, (20-28 and 40-44 amu/q); (2) the lunar atmosphere in these mass ranges is distributed exponentially; (3) the terminator region surface number density for Ne-20 is of the order of 10 to the 5th/cu cm; (4) the terminator region lunar surface potential is negative from about 10 to 100 volts; and (5) this potential has a screening length of the order of a kilometer.