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Mass fractionation in hydrodynamic escape

Mass fractionation in hydrodynamic escape

Authors :
Hunten, Donald M
Pepin, Robert O
Walker, James C. G
Source :
Icarus. 69
Publication Year :
1987
Publisher :
United States: NASA Center for Aerospace Information (CASI), 1987.

Abstract

In mass fractionation during the hydrodynamic escape of gases from an inner planet's atmosphere, the readier escape of light gases generates a linear or concave downward line in a plotting of the log of remaining inventory against atomic mass. Just as such an episode of hydrodynamic escape during Mars' early history could have led to the mass-dependent depletion of the noble gases that has been noted in the Martian atmosphere, in the event that the Martian atmosphere was initially hydrogen-rich, an early earth-history episode may have resulted in a mass-dependent fractionation of the xenon isotopes.

Subjects

Subjects :
Lunar And Planetary Exploration

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
00191035
Volume :
69
Database :
NASA Technical Reports
Journal :
Icarus
Notes :
NAS2-9126, , NSG-7558, , NAG9-60
Publication Type :
Report
Accession number :
edsnas.19870049991
Document Type :
Report
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/0019-1035(87)90022-4