Optical and High-Frequency Electrical Properties of the Lunar Sample

Abstract

Reflectivity and polarization laws for the powder sample and its spectrum are close to the mean for the lunar maria. Solid samples show a marked absorption feature at 1 micron. The low albedo appears to be due to a surface coating on dust grains rather than to volume absorption. The high-frequency electrical properties resemble those of a fine powder made from typical dense terrestrial rocks and are consistent with previous estimates from ground-based radar observations. The differential mass spectrum is almost constant from 100 micron particles down to 0.1 micron particles; most particles are smaller than 0.3 micron. Their shapes disclose a variety of processes of generation.