Abstract
To support the microwave brightness data retrieval of future China space-borne lunar exploration microwave radiometer, based on the collection of plentiful terrestrial basalts and anorthosites and their chemical compositions got by X-ray fluorescence, nine lunar soil simulators were prepared and made respectively into 0.8, 1.0, 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6 g/cm3 five densities each. We measured their relative dielectric constants over the range of 0.5-20 GHz with open-ended coaxial line model on the HP8722C Network Analyzer and then processed and analyzed the measurement data. This study shows that among the three parameters of density, frequency and composition, density has the strongest effect on the relative dielectric constants, frequency comes second, composition the least. The three parameters account for 45%, 33% and 22% respectively of the changed real part of a relative dielectric constant, and 55%, 27% and 19% respectively of the changed imaginary part. The real parts of the relative dielectric constants are linearly linearly correlated with density or frequency, and the imaginary parts have a linear relation with both approximately over the range of 0.5-10 GHz and tend to be poorly correlated with them in 10–20 GHz. The effect of composition on a relative dielectric constant seems very complicated, both probably do not follow a simple function relation, with the least correlation. Multiple regression analysis indicates that major element oxides SiO2, A12O3, CaO, MgO, TiO2 and ΔFe are correspondent to a one-order polynomial, and TiO2 or ΔFe or TiO2+ΔFe has not been proven to be the indicators in the contribution to the relative dielectric constants.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bayley, P. L., Dielectric losses in rock salt, Phys. Rev., 1933, 43(2): 355–357.
Berg, G. A., Dielectric separation of mineral grains, J. Sed. Petrol., 1936, 6: 23–27.
Campbell, M. J., Ulrichs, J., Electrical properties of rocks and their significance for lunar radar observations, J. Geophys. Res., 1969, 74(25): 5867–5881.
Bassett, H. L., Shackelford, R. G., Dielectric properties of Apollo 14 lunar samples at microwave and millimeter wavelengths, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 1972, (supp.): 3.
Chung, D. H., Westphal, W. B., Simmmons, G., Dielectric properties of Apollo 11 lunar samples and their comparison with earth materials, J. G. R., 1970, 75: 6524–6531.
Chung, D. H., Westphal, W. B., Simmons, G., Dielectric behavior of lunar samples: Electromagnetic probing of the lunar interior, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 1971, (supp. 2): 2381–2390.
Chung, D. H., Westphal, W. B., Olhoeft, G. R., Dielectric properties of Apollo 14 lunar samples, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 1972, (supp. 3): 3161–3172.
Gold, T., O’Leary, B. T., Campbell, M., Some physical properties of Apollo 12 lunar samples, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 1971, (supp. 2): 2173–2181.
Hansen, W., Still, W. R., Ward, S. H., The dielectric properties of selected basalts, Geophysics, 1973, 38: 135–139.
Olhoeft, G. R., Strangway, D. W., Dielectric properties of the first 100 meters of the moon, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 1975, 24: 394–404.
Strangway, D. W., Moon: Electrical properties of the uppermost layers, Science, 1969, 16: 275.
Strangway, D. W., Chapman, W B., Olhoeft, G. R., Carnes, J., Electrical properties of lunar soil dependence on frequency, temperature and moisture, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 1972, 16: 275–281.
Ulaby, F. T., Bengal, T. H., Dobson, M. C., East, J. R., Garvin, J. B., Evans, D. L., Microwave dielectric properties of dry rocks, IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, 1990, 28(3): 325–336.
Heiken, G. H., Vaniman, D. T., French, B. M., Lunar Sourcebook: A User’s Guide to the Moon, New York, Port Chester, Melbourne, Sydney: Cambodge University Press, 1991, 536–552.
Alvarez, R., Lunar powder simulator under lunarlike conditions: Dielectric properties, J. Geophys. Res., 1973, 78(29): 6833–6844.
McKay, D. S., Carter, J. L., Boles, W W., Allen C. C., Allton, J. H., JSC-1: A new lunar soil simulant, Engineering, Construction, and Operations in Space IV, American Society of Civil Engineers, 1994, 857–866.
Duke, M. B., Woo, C. C., Bird, M. L., Sellers, G. A., Finkelman, R. B., Lunar soil: Size distribution and mineralogical constituents, Science, 1970, 167: 648–650.
Kulcinski, G. L., Extraction of Solar Wind Volatiles, http://fti.neep. wisc.edu/neep602/lecture 18.html, 1996.
Ni Erhu, Dielectric Spectrum Technology in Materials Science (in Chinese), Beijing: Science Press, 1999, 26–31.
Stuchly, M. A., Brady, M. M., Stuchly, S. S., Gajda Gregory, Equivalent circuit of an open-ended coaxial line in a lossy dielectric, IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, 1982, IM-31(2): 116–119.
Zhou Qingyi, Microwave Measurement Technology (in Chinese), Beijing: National Defense Industry Press, 1964, 286–307.
Teng Xuyan, Xiao Jinkai, Shi Changging, Lai Zhaosheng, Peng Hongxian, Yang Bolin, Passive microwave radiometry in the Gobi-Desert region, Remote Sensing of Environment, 1984, 15(1): 37–46.
Xiao Jinkai, Dielectric property research of minerals and rocks and its significance on remote sensing, Environmental Remote Sensing (in Chinese), 1988, 3(2): 135–146.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
About this article
Cite this article
Dihui, L., Jingshan, J., Ji, W. et al. Experimental research and statistical analysis on the dielectric properties of lunar soil simulators. Chin.Sci.Bull. 50, 1034–1044 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1360/982004-816
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1360/982004-816