Irradiation of magnesium silicates with MeV protons

Abstract

Finely powdered samples of the silicates olivine (Mg2SiO4) and enstatite (MgSiO3) were exposed to protons carrying energies from 1.5 to 2.0 MeV. The experiment indicates that for reasonable exposures of such radiation in space, no significant change in the mid-infrared signatures of these materials will be noted.