Ion beams have been employed to get micro-PIXE measurements and ionoluminescence analyses on a natural silica glass, known as Libyan desert glass (LDG), representing a probable fusion product of desert sandstone due to the impact of an extraterrestrial body. In particular some brown streaks, which are present in a few specimens and con- sidered as traces of the impactor, have been characterized. The presence of discrete bands with di erent luminescence intensity has been revealed by both ionoluminescence and cathodoluminescence. Several hypotheses have been pro- posed in order to explain the luminescence properties of this material. Finally, the usefulness of the synergic combi- nation of ionoluminescence and micro-PIXE, to characterize LDG, has been showed. Ó 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Ion beam study of a possible extraterrestrial body signature in Libyan desert glass
VITTONE, Ettore
2000-01-01
Abstract
Ion beams have been employed to get micro-PIXE measurements and ionoluminescence analyses on a natural silica glass, known as Libyan desert glass (LDG), representing a probable fusion product of desert sandstone due to the impact of an extraterrestrial body. In particular some brown streaks, which are present in a few specimens and con- sidered as traces of the impactor, have been characterized. The presence of discrete bands with di erent luminescence intensity has been revealed by both ionoluminescence and cathodoluminescence. Several hypotheses have been pro- posed in order to explain the luminescence properties of this material. Finally, the usefulness of the synergic combi- nation of ionoluminescence and micro-PIXE, to characterize LDG, has been showed. Ó 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.