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.