We are developing the Moon Moisture Targeting Observatory (MoMoTarO), a radiation monitor of neutrons and gamma rays to search for water resources on the Moon. As fast neutrons travel through the lunar soil, they are scattered by light elements such as hydrogen in water, losing their energy, and becoming thermal and epi-thermal neutrons. The non-contact water exploration without excavation can be realized by measuring the difference in the number of thermal or epi-thermal neutrons depending on water content. The MoMoTarO project can also aim at fundamental scientific studies such as gamma-ray burst observations and the neutron lifetime mystery. We are now constructing an engineering model and demonstrating the performance of the MoMoTarO detector.
The spontaneous polarization of pyroelectric crystal is utilized to X-ray emission in low pressure gas of ~1 Pa, which has a potential as a future in-situ X-ray source with small size, light weight, and low electric power consumption. The pyroelectric X-ray production still has problems as its intensity and reproducibility because the mechanism of electron production is still an open question. We have experimentally and numerically evaluated pyroelectric X-ray generation relevant to electric discharges around the pyroelectric crystal with various sizes of target support and target with/without a needle. Three kinds of electric discharge, between crystal top and metallic target (CT-MT discharge), between crystal top and crystal bottom (CT-CB discharge), and along with crystal surface (CS discharge), were observed. The CT-MT discharge was measured by the 1 cm × 5 cm target support or target with a needle, which induced irregular X-ray increases. X-ray intensity became reproducible, but not so large when the CT-MT discharges were measured. The CTCB and CS discharges were active for the large target plates. These two discharges occur irregularly, resulting low reproducibility. While reduction of crystal potential by the CS discharge was not large, the CT-CB discharge stopped Xray emission. When the CT-CB was not measured, the X-ray intensity became large. Calculation results of electric fields at around the crystal supported the experimental results, which implied that selection of appropriate target support is one of important factors to obtain large and reproducible X-ray intensity by the pyroelectric X-ray generation.
The chemical element abundance on planetary surface is essential for planetary science. We have been developing an active X-ray spectrometer (AXS), which is an in-situ chemical element analyzer based on the X-ray florescence analysis for future planetary landing missions. The AXS consists of an X-ray detector and multiple X-ray sources. Although a pyroelectric X-ray generator is promising for the AXS as an X-ray source, the raise of emission X-ray intensity is necessary for short-time and precise determination of elemental composition. Also, in order to enhance the detection efficiency of light major elements such as Mg, Al, and Si, we have tested the low energy X-ray emission by changing the target material. In this study, the X-ray emission calculation at the target by Monte Carlo simulation and the X-ray emission experiments were carried out. More than 106 cps of the time-averaged X-ray emission rate was achieved in maximum using a LiTaO3 crystal with 4 mm thickness and Cu target with 10 um thickness. The performance of pyroelectric X-ray generator is presented in this paper.
An active X-ray spectrometer (AXS) is now being developed as a payload candidate for the rover on SELENE-2, the next Japanese lunar exploration mission. The AXS will determine the chemical compositions of lunar rocks and regolith around the landing site. The surface of lunar rock samples will be ground using a rock abrasion tool. Thus, fundamental studies on the X-ray fluorescence analysis for lunar rocks and regolith are required to design and develop the AXS. In this study, we have investigated the X-ray fluorescence analysis in order to evaluate the effects of surface roughness of samples and the angle of incident and emergent X-rays. It was found that the fluorescent X-ray yield for low energy X-rays, i.e. the light elements, decreases at rough surface samples. This effect of surface roughness becomes small for smooth surface samples. It was also found that the fluorescent X-ray yield depends on the incident angle, which is attributed to the fact that the X-ray fluorescence occurs closer to the sample surface at larger incident angles. Since the emergent X-rays are affected by the detection geometry and surface roughness, the incident angle effect also depends on the above conditions.
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