Here we present results from pulsed laser irradiation of troilite samples in an effort to simulate space weathering on airless bodies via micrometeorite impacts. We find that the spectral trends observed in directly irradiated samples and samples with a vapor‐deposited coating are different than those found in silicate minerals previously studied. For instance, direct laser irradiation causes our troilite samples to initially brighten, but continued irradiation causes darkening and a decrease in spectral slope. In contrast, our samples with a vapor‐deposited coating show a continuous increase in spectral slope and overall albedo as the deposit thickness increases. Observation using both digital imaging and electron microscopy of our directly irradiated samples leads us to conclude that topography effects likely become important after a relatively high number of laser pulses in our directly irradiated samples, causing the apparent darkening and decrease in spectral slope. Thus, we conclude that the spectral changes observed relevant to space weathering via micrometeorite impacts are an increase in spectral slope and an increase in the albedo of troilite. Future studies will investigate whether these trends are generally representative of other sulfide‐bearing minerals and of weathering trends in other components found in the asteroid regolith.

中文翻译：

---

脉冲激光辐照引起的FeS的空间风化

在这里，我们介绍了对三叶草样品进行脉冲激光辐照的结果，旨在通过微陨石撞击模拟无气物体上的空间风化。我们发现，在直接辐照样品和具有气相沉积涂层的样品中观察到的光谱趋势与先前研究的硅酸盐矿物中发现的光谱趋势不同。例如，直接激光照射会导致我们的三叶草样品最初变亮，但持续照射会导致变暗并降低光谱斜率。相比之下，随着沉积厚度的增加，我们具有气相沉积涂层的样品的光谱斜率和总反照率不断增加。使用数字成像和电子显微镜观察我们直接照射的样品得出的结论使我们得出结论，在我们直接照射的样品中有相对大量的激光脉冲后，形貌效应可能变得很重要，从而导致明显的变暗和光谱斜率降低。因此，我们得出结论，通过微陨石撞击观察到的与空间风化有关的光谱变化是光谱斜率增加和三叶草反照率增加。未来的研究将调查这些趋势是否通常代表其他含硫化物的矿物以及小行星盘石中发现的其他成分的风化趋势。我们得出的结论是，通过微陨石撞击观察到的与空间风化有关的光谱变化是光谱斜率增加和三叶草反照率增加。未来的研究将调查这些趋势是否通常代表其他含硫化物的矿物以及小行星盘石中发现的其他成分的风化趋势。我们得出的结论是，通过微陨石撞击观察到的与空间风化有关的光谱变化是光谱斜率增加和三叶草反照率增加。未来的研究将调查这些趋势是否通常代表其他含硫化物的矿物以及小行星盘石中发现的其他成分的风化趋势。