The Kaguya gamma-ray spectrometer (KGRS) has great potential to precisely determine the absolute abundances of natural radioactive elements K, Th and U on the lunar surface because of its excellent spectroscopic performance. In order to achieve the best performance of the KGRS, it is important to know the spatial response function (SRF) that describes the directional sensitivity of the KGRS. The SRF is derived by a series of Monte Carlo simulations of gamma-ray transport in the sensor of the KGRS using the full-fledged simulation model of the KGRS, and is studied in detail. In this paper, the method for deriving absolute abundance of natural radioactive elements based on the SRF is described for the 194 S. Kobayashi et al.analysis of KGRS data, which is also applicable to any gamma-ray remote sensings. In the preliminary analysis of KGRS data, we determined the absolute abundances of K and Th on the lunar surface without using any previous knowledge of chemical information gained from Apollo samples, lunar meteorites and/or previous lunar remote sensings. The results are compared with the previous measurements and the difference and the correspondence are discussed. Future detailed analysis of KGRS data will provide new and more precise maps of K, Th and U on the lunar surface.
On the lunar surface, every human being would be exposed to galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) and their secondary products such as gamma rays and neutrons. For the human activity on the lunar surface in the future, it is important to estimate the effect of these particles on radiation doses. The annual ambient dose equivalent on the lunar surface was estimated on the basis of the latest observational data of GCRs. It is found that the annual ambient dose equivalent amount to about 570 mSv/yr during the intermediate period between the maximum and the minimum phases of the solar activity. This amount of dose is mainly produced from primary components of GCRs heavier than proton and helium nuclei. The annual ambient dose equivalent due to iron nuclei during this period is about 130 mSv/yr, more than 20% of the total dose on the lunar surface. Moreover, the dose due to these neutrons among the secondary particles reaches 50 mSv/yr, suggesting that the dose due to neutrons must be considered from the viewpoint of the human activity on the lunar surface.
The lunar surface is directly exposed to galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) and solar energetic particles (SEPs) because of the lack of atmosphere and magnetic field on the Moon. These charged particles successively interact with the lunar material and then produce secondary radiations as neutrons and gamma rays. The annual ambient dose equivalent on the lunar surface is estimated about 840 mSv/yr during the quiet period at the solar activity minimum. Particularly, GCR heavy component largely contributes by about 80% to the annual dose equivalents. The ambient dose equivalents of SEPs are also calculated for two transient solar particles events on October 28th in 2003 and January 20th 2005. The SEP protons take the largest contribution of about 90% to the dose, while the heavy components of SEPs do not contribute so much unlike GCRs. The ambient dose equivalent due to the SEP event on 2003 exceeds 2 Sv on the lunar surface. It is clear, however, that an aluminum shield with a thickness of 10 g/cm 2 effectively reduces the dose to 0.1% of total because the solar event has a soft energy spectrum.
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