Thermal and Dynamo Evolution of the Lunar Core Based on the Transport Properties of Fe‐S‐P Alloys
Abstract Paleomagnetic analyses have suggested that the lunar magnetic field underwent a significant change from 4.25 to 3.19 Ga, indicating the rapid transition of the lunar dynamo mechanism. We used the van der Pauw (vdP) method to measure the electrical resistivity of Fe‐S‐P alloys under conditio...
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Wiley
2024-07-01
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| Series: | Geophysical Research Letters |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL108131 |
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| author | Kuan Zhai Yuan Yin Shuangmeng Zhai |
| author_facet | Kuan Zhai Yuan Yin Shuangmeng Zhai |
| author_sort | Kuan Zhai |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Paleomagnetic analyses have suggested that the lunar magnetic field underwent a significant change from 4.25 to 3.19 Ga, indicating the rapid transition of the lunar dynamo mechanism. We used the van der Pauw (vdP) method to measure the electrical resistivity of Fe‐S‐P alloys under conditions relevant to the lunar core and estimated the thermal conductivity of the Fe‐S‐P lunar core. These values were incorporated into thermal and dynamo models to investigate the evolution of the lunar core. Our model indicates that the inner core began to grow as early as 4.35 Ga, the solidification regime switched at 3.50 Ga, and the thermal dynamo ceased between 3.78 and 3.51 Ga. The cessation of the dynamo could be due to a low buoyancy flux and insufficient entropy dissipation. Thermal and compositional dynamos cannot sustain the ancient strength of the Moon's magnetic field, and require other energy sources. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-03ffcf3d878f41d9ab5e0f71405cb814 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0094-8276 1944-8007 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-07-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
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| series | Geophysical Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj-art-03ffcf3d878f41d9ab5e0f71405cb8142025-08-20T01:51:55ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072024-07-015114n/an/a10.1029/2024GL108131Thermal and Dynamo Evolution of the Lunar Core Based on the Transport Properties of Fe‐S‐P AlloysKuan Zhai0Yuan Yin1Shuangmeng Zhai2Key Laboratory of High‐Temperature and High‐Pressure Study of the Earth's Interior Institute of Geochemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Guiyang ChinaState Key Laboratory of Ore Deposit Geochemistry Institute of Geochemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Guiyang ChinaKey Laboratory of High‐Temperature and High‐Pressure Study of the Earth's Interior Institute of Geochemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Guiyang ChinaAbstract Paleomagnetic analyses have suggested that the lunar magnetic field underwent a significant change from 4.25 to 3.19 Ga, indicating the rapid transition of the lunar dynamo mechanism. We used the van der Pauw (vdP) method to measure the electrical resistivity of Fe‐S‐P alloys under conditions relevant to the lunar core and estimated the thermal conductivity of the Fe‐S‐P lunar core. These values were incorporated into thermal and dynamo models to investigate the evolution of the lunar core. Our model indicates that the inner core began to grow as early as 4.35 Ga, the solidification regime switched at 3.50 Ga, and the thermal dynamo ceased between 3.78 and 3.51 Ga. The cessation of the dynamo could be due to a low buoyancy flux and insufficient entropy dissipation. Thermal and compositional dynamos cannot sustain the ancient strength of the Moon's magnetic field, and require other energy sources.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL108131electrical resistivitythermal conductivitylunar core evolutionthermal dynamomagnetic field |
| spellingShingle | Kuan Zhai Yuan Yin Shuangmeng Zhai Thermal and Dynamo Evolution of the Lunar Core Based on the Transport Properties of Fe‐S‐P Alloys Geophysical Research Letters electrical resistivity thermal conductivity lunar core evolution thermal dynamo magnetic field |
| title | Thermal and Dynamo Evolution of the Lunar Core Based on the Transport Properties of Fe‐S‐P Alloys |
| title_full | Thermal and Dynamo Evolution of the Lunar Core Based on the Transport Properties of Fe‐S‐P Alloys |
| title_fullStr | Thermal and Dynamo Evolution of the Lunar Core Based on the Transport Properties of Fe‐S‐P Alloys |
| title_full_unstemmed | Thermal and Dynamo Evolution of the Lunar Core Based on the Transport Properties of Fe‐S‐P Alloys |
| title_short | Thermal and Dynamo Evolution of the Lunar Core Based on the Transport Properties of Fe‐S‐P Alloys |
| title_sort | thermal and dynamo evolution of the lunar core based on the transport properties of fe s p alloys |
| topic | electrical resistivity thermal conductivity lunar core evolution thermal dynamo magnetic field |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL108131 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kuanzhai thermalanddynamoevolutionofthelunarcorebasedonthetransportpropertiesoffespalloys AT yuanyin thermalanddynamoevolutionofthelunarcorebasedonthetransportpropertiesoffespalloys AT shuangmengzhai thermalanddynamoevolutionofthelunarcorebasedonthetransportpropertiesoffespalloys |