The Evaluation of Space Weathering Effects on Lunar Samples From a Raman Spectroscopic Perspective

Abstract

Airless bodies within the solar system experience bombardment from the solar wind and micrometeoroids, leading to a range of physical and chemical alterations of soil materials. However, research on the Raman spectroscopic features induced using space weathering processes in returned lunar samples is limited. Such research is essential for accurately interpreting mineralogical and compositional information using Raman spectroscopy in future planetary missions. Here, we investigated the effects of space weathering on the Raman spectral features of lunar minerals from Chang'e-5 soil samples. The Raman peak intensities decrease after exposure to space weathering without significant shifts in peak position. Furthermore, fluorescence is a critical indicator for evaluating the degree of space weathering. This work demonstrates that Raman spectroscopy is complementary to visible and near-infrared spectroscopy in assessing space weathering effects and serves as a valuable tool for in situ mineralogical investigations in future space exploration missions.