Measurement of the lunar neutron density profile

Anin situ measurement of the lunar neutron density from 20 to 400 g cm^-2 depth below the lunar surface was made by the Apollo 17 Lunar Neutron Probe Experiment (LNPE) using particle tracks produced by the¹⁰B (n,a)⁷Li reaction. Both the absolute magnitude and the depth profile of the neutron density are in good agreement with theoretical calculations by Lingenfelter, Canfield, and Hampel. However, relatively small deviations between experiment and theory in the effect of Cd absorption on the neutron density and in the relative¹⁴⁹Sm to¹⁵⁷Gd capture rates reported previously (Russet al., 1972) imply that the true lunar¹⁵⁷Gd capture rate is about one half of that calculated theoretically.