GALACTIC COSMIC-RAY-PRODUCED THERMOLUMINESCENCE PROFILES IN METEORITES, LUNAR-SAMPLES AND A TERRESTRIAL ANALOG

The long-term radiation shielding properties of common extraterrestria l materials are poorly known, although these materials are the most li kely structural elements on airless worlds such as the Moon. We report on radiation dose profiles in meteorites and lunar soil cores using s pecific minerals as naturally-occuring ''dosimeters''. We find that ra diation profiles are fairly flat in typical meteoroid bodies (<85 cm r adius) and drop by only about 40% through about 2.5 m of lunar soil. T hese profiles are produced by primary galactic cosmic rays and the sec ondary proton cascade but with a significant contribution by secondary neutrons at depths of about 2 m (300 g/cm(2)).