Yuzuru Karouji

X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopic study of Hayabusa category 3 carbonaceous particles

Analyses with a scanning transmission x-ray microscope (STXM) using x-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy were applied for the molecular characterization of two kinds of carbonaceous particles of unknown origin, termed category 3, which were collected from the Hayabusa spacecraft sample catcher. Carbon-XANES spectra of the category 3 particles displayed typical spectral patterns of heterogeneous organic macromolecules; peaks corresponding to aromatic/olefinic carbon, heterocyclic nitrogen and/or nitrile, and carboxyl carbon were all detected. Nitrogen-XANES spectra of the particles showed the presence of N-functional groups such as imine, nitrile, aromatic nitrogen, amide, pyrrole, and amine. An oxygen-XANES spectrum of one of the particles showed a ketone group. Differences in carbon- and nitrogen-XANES spectra of the category 3 particles before and after transmission electron microscopic (TEM) observations were observed, which demonstrates that the carbonaceous materials are electron beam sensitive. Calcium-XANES spectroscopy and elemental contrast mapping identified a calcium carbonate grain from one of the category 3 particles. No fluorine-containing molecular species were detected in fluorine-XANES spectra of the particles. The organic macromolecular features of the category 3 particles were distinct from commercial and/or biological ‘fresh (non-degraded)’ polymers, but the category 3 molecular features could possibly reflect degradation of contaminant polymer materials or polymer materials used on the Hayabusa spacecraft. However, an extraterrestrial origin for these materials cannot currently be ruled out.

H, C, and N isotopic compositions of Hayabusa category 3 organic samples

Since isotopic ratios of H, C, and N are sensitive indicators for determining extraterrestrial organics, we have measured these isotopes of Hayabusa category 3 organic samples of RB-QD04-0047-02, RA-QD02-0120, and RB-QD04-0001 with ion imaging using a NanoSIMS ion microprobe. All samples have H, C, and N isotopic compositions that are terrestrial within errors (approximately ±50‰ for H, approximately ±9‰ for C, and approximately ±2‰ for N). None of these samples contain micrometer-sized hot spots with anomalous H, C, and N isotopic compositions, unlike previous isotope data for extraterrestrial organic materials, i.e., insoluble organic matters (IOMs) and nano-globules in chondrites, interplanetary dust particles (IDPs), and cometary dust particles. We, therefore, cannot conclude whether these Hayabusa category 3 samples are terrestrial contaminants or extraterrestrial materials because of the H, C, and N isotopic data. A coordinated study using microanalysis techniques including Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FT-IR), time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), NanoSIMS ion microprobe, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (XANES), and transmission electron microscopy/scanning transmission electron microscopy (TEM/STEM) is required to characterize Hayabusa category 3 samples in more detail for exploring their origin and nature.

Implications for the origins of pure anorthosites found in the feldspathic lunar meteorites, Dhofar 489 group

Remote observation by the reflectance spectrometers onboard the Japanese lunar explorer Kaguya (SELENE) showed the purest anorthosite (PAN) spots (>98% plagioclase) at some large craters. Mineralogical and petrologic investigations on the feldspathic lunar meteorites, Dhofar 489 and Dhofar 911, revealed the presence of several pure anorthosite clasts. A comparison with Apollo nearside samples of ferroan anorthosite (FAN) indicated that of the FAN samples returned by the Apollo missions, sample 60015 is the largest anorthosite with the highest plagioclase abundance and homogeneous mafic mineral compositions. These pure anorthosites (>98% plagioclase) have large chemical variations in Mg number (Mg# = molar 100 × Mg/(Mg + Fe)) of each coexisting mafic mineral. The variations imply that these pure anorthosites underwent complex formation processes and were not formed by simple flotation of plagioclase. The lunar highland samples with pure anorthosite and the PAN observed by Kaguya suggest that pure anorthosite is widely distributed as lunar crust lithology over the entire Moon.

ToF-SIMS Analysis of Carbonaceous Particles in the Sample Catcher of the Hayabusa Spacecraft

Three carbonaceous category 3 particles (RA-QD02-0180, RB-QD04-0037-01, and RB-QD04-0047-02) returned in the sample catcher from the Hayabusa spacecraft were analyzed by time of flight-secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) to establish an analytical procedure for determination of their origins. By the different analytical schemes, the three particles gave distinct elemental and molecular ions, in which the organic carbons commonly appear to be associated with nitrogen, silicon, and/or fluorine. The particles could be debris of silicon rubber and fluorinated compounds and are therefore man-made artifacts rather than natural organic matter.

A micro-Raman and infrared study of several Hayabusa category 3 (organic) particles

Three category 3 (organic) particles (RB-QD04-0001, RB-QD04-0047-02, and RA-QD02-0120) and so-called ‘white object’ found in the sample container have been examined by micro-Raman and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. In addition, several artificial substances that could occur as possible contaminants and chondritic insoluble organic matter (IOM) prepared from the Murchison CM2 chondrite were analyzed. The Raman spectra of the particles show broad G-band and weak D-band. The G-band parameters plot in the disordered region and close to the artifact produced from a Viton glove after laser exposure rather than chondritic IOM. The particles were therefore originally at low maturity level, suggesting that they have not experienced strong heating and are therefore not related to the LL4-6 parent body. The IR spectra are not similar to that of chondritic IOM. Furthermore, the particles cannot be identified as some artificial carbonaceous substances, including the white object, which are the possible contaminants, examined in this investigation. Although it cannot be determined exactly whether the three category 3 particles are extraterrestrial, the limited IR and Raman results in this investigation strongly suggest their terrestrial origin. Although they could not be directly related to the artificial contaminants examined in this investigation, they may yet be reaction products from similar substances that flew on the mission. In particular, RB-QD04-0047-02 shows several infrared spectral absorption bands in common with the ‘white object.’ This may relate to the degradation of a polyimide/polyamide resin.

The Kaguya gamma-ray spectrometer: instrumentation and in-flight performances

A Gamma-Ray Spectrometer (GRS) had been developed as a part of the science payload for the first Japanese lunar explorer, Kaguya. The Kaguya was successfully launched from Tanegashima Space Center on September 14, 2007 and was injected into an orbit around the Moon and the mission ended on June 11, 2009. The Kaguya GRS (hereafter KGRS) has a large-volume Ge semiconductor detector of 252 cc as the main detector and bismuth-germanate and plastic scintillators as an active shielding. The Ge detector achieved an energy resolution of 3.0 keV (FWHM) for 1332 keV gamma ray in ground test despite the use of a mechanical cryocooler and observed gamma rays in energies ranging 0.2 to 12 MeV in lunar orbit. It was the first use of a Ge detector for lunar exploration. During the mission, KGRS participated in geochemical survey and investigated the elemental compositions of subsurface materials of the Moon. In this paper, we summarize the overview of the KGRS describing the design and in-flight performance of the instrument. This paper provides basic information required for reading science articles regarding the KGRSs observation data.

Germanium Gamma-Ray Spectrometer on SELENE (KAGUYA)

The Japanese lunar explorer SELENE was launched from Tanegashima Space Center on September 14, 2007. It consists of a main orbiter KAGUYA at 100 km altitude and two daughter satellites (relay satellite OKINA and VRAD satellite OUNA) with 14 scientific instruments. The high precision gamma-ray spectrometer (GRS) on KAGUYA measures 200 keV–12 MeV gamma rays to determine the elemental composition of the lunar surface. The GRS is composed of a large Ge crystal as a main detector and massive bismuth germinate (BGO) crystals and a plastic scintillator as anticoincidence detectors. The Ge detector is cooled by a Stirling cryocooler below 90 K during the observation. After successful launch of the spacecraft and initial checkouts, the GRS started the nominal observation on December 21, 2007, and the temperatures and counting rates of the GRS were confirmed to be stable. Energy spectra of gamma rays with a good energy resolution are being obtained over the lunar surface, which will allow us to make global maps of ...

Mineralogy of some evolved LL chondrites with reference to asteroid materials and solar system evolution

Mineralogy of three LL chondrites including Y-981971, Y-793214, and Y-790782 indicates that granulitic materials may have been formed in some depth of their parent body by an impact event. This process of high-temperature episodes is different from the records in the differentiated achondrites (howardite-eucrite-diogenite (HED)) possibly from the Vesta-like asteroid.

Mineralogy of four Itokawa particles collected from the first touchdown site

Four Itokawa particles collected from the first touchdown site were mineralogically investigated by optical microscopy, micro-Raman (μ-Raman) spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron microprobe analysis (EPMA), X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Their mineralogy has an affinity to that of LL6 chondrites based on micro-Raman spectroscopy, EPMA, and XAS analyses. However, the space weathering rims on them are less developed than those observed on the Itokawa particles collected from the second touchdown site. Solar flare tracks are rarely observed in the four particles, whose number densities were lower than those observed in the Itokawa particles from the second touchdown site.

Independent Component Analysis of the Gamma Ray Spectrometer data of SELENE (Kaguya)

We analyze the spectra measured by the Gamma Ray Spectrometer (GRS) on board the SELENE satellite orbiting the Moon. The spectra consist in 8192 energy channels ranging from 0 to 12 MeV and exhibiting lines of interest (O, Mg, Al, Si, Ti, Ca, Fe, K, Th, and U) superposed on a continuum. We have also analysed the data with various multivariate techniques, one of them being the Independent Component Analysis. We have used the JADE algorithm for our analysis that we focused in the energy range from 750 to 3000 keV. We identify at least three meaningful components. The first one is correlated to the Thorium map. The corresponding correlation coefficient spectrum exhibits the lines of Thorium, Potassium and Uranium. The second component is clearly correlated with the Iron as shown on its corresponding spectrum. Finally the third component seems to be related to the altitude of the spacecraft. This work shows that maps of elements such as iron will be available with the GRS data by a purely statistical analysis.