中国物理B ›› 2022, Vol. 31 ›› Issue (4): 45201-045201.doi: 10.1088/1674-1056/ac2e61

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Distribution of charged lunar dust in the south polar region of the moon

Qing Xia(夏清)1, Ming-Hui Cai(蔡明辉)1,2,†, Liang-Liang Xu(许亮亮)1, Rui-Long Han(韩瑞龙)1,2, Tao Yang(杨涛)1, and Jian-Wei Han(韩建伟)1,2   

  1. 1 National Space Science Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China;
    2 School of Astronomy and Space Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
  • 收稿日期:2021-07-02 修回日期:2021-08-26 接受日期:2021-10-11 出版日期:2022-03-16 发布日期:2022-03-10
  • 通讯作者: Ming-Hui Cai E-mail:caiminghui@nssc.ac.cn
  • 基金资助:
    Project supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2020YFC2201300), the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. XDA17010301), and the Technical Basic Scientific Research Project (Grant No. JSZL2019903B001).

Distribution of charged lunar dust in the south polar region of the moon

Qing Xia(夏清)1, Ming-Hui Cai(蔡明辉)1,2,†, Liang-Liang Xu(许亮亮)1, Rui-Long Han(韩瑞龙)1,2, Tao Yang(杨涛)1, and Jian-Wei Han(韩建伟)1,2   

  1. 1 National Space Science Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China;
    2 School of Astronomy and Space Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
  • Received:2021-07-02 Revised:2021-08-26 Accepted:2021-10-11 Online:2022-03-16 Published:2022-03-10
  • Contact: Ming-Hui Cai E-mail:caiminghui@nssc.ac.cn
  • Supported by:
    Project supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2020YFC2201300), the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. XDA17010301), and the Technical Basic Scientific Research Project (Grant No. JSZL2019903B001).

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摘要： Lunar dust is one of the most threatening problems confronting the return of human beings to the moon. In this work we studied the spatial distribution behavior of charged lunar dust in the solar wind plasma environment in the south polar region of the moon and considered the influence of a mini-crater using Spacecraft Plasma Interactions Software. The distribution of dust and plasma at low solar altitude angles of 20° and 0° was studied, and the spatial density of lunar dust was ~1010.4 m-3 and ~1011.5 m-3, respectively. This is because a higher surface potential will result in transportation of small dust particles and photoelectrons can also neutralize positively charged lunar dust. The dust density in the plasma void region created by a mini-crater with a 5 m high wall was studied. We obtained a quasi-neutral electric environment in the plasma void region of the mini-crater, and the dust density was about a magnitude lower than that in other regions. The dust risk to a spacesuit is much lower on the nightside than on the dayside, but there is severe charged lunar dust transport in the region between light and shade, which is dominated by the difference in surface and plasma potential caused by photoelectrons.

关键词: lunar dust, south polar region, solar wind, mini-crater

Abstract: Lunar dust is one of the most threatening problems confronting the return of human beings to the moon. In this work we studied the spatial distribution behavior of charged lunar dust in the solar wind plasma environment in the south polar region of the moon and considered the influence of a mini-crater using Spacecraft Plasma Interactions Software. The distribution of dust and plasma at low solar altitude angles of 20° and 0° was studied, and the spatial density of lunar dust was ~1010.4 m-3 and ~1011.5 m-3, respectively. This is because a higher surface potential will result in transportation of small dust particles and photoelectrons can also neutralize positively charged lunar dust. The dust density in the plasma void region created by a mini-crater with a 5 m high wall was studied. We obtained a quasi-neutral electric environment in the plasma void region of the mini-crater, and the dust density was about a magnitude lower than that in other regions. The dust risk to a spacesuit is much lower on the nightside than on the dayside, but there is severe charged lunar dust transport in the region between light and shade, which is dominated by the difference in surface and plasma potential caused by photoelectrons.

Key words: lunar dust, south polar region, solar wind, mini-crater

中图分类号:  (Dusty or complex plasmas; plasma crystals)

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