The interior structure of the Moon is constrained by its mass, moment of inertia, and k(2) and h(2) tidal Love numbers. We infer the likely radius, density, and (elastic limit) rigidity of all interior layers by solving the inverse problem using these observational constraints assuming spherical symmetry. Our results do not favor the presence of a low rigidity transition layer between a liquid outer core and mantle. If a transition layer exists, its rigidity is constrained to 43-9+26GPa, with a preference for the high rigidity values. Therefore, if a transition layer exists, it is more likely to have a rigidity similar to that of the mantle (approximate to 70GPa). The total (solid and liquid) core mass fraction relative to the lunar mass is constrained to 0.0098-0.0094+0.0066 and 0.0198-0.0049+0.0026 for interior structures with and without a transition layer, respectively, narrowing the range of possible giant impact formation scenarios.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:arizona.edu/oai:arizona.openrepository.com:10150/621595 |
| Date | 28 August 2016 |
| Creators | Matsuyama, Isamu, Nimmo, Francis, Keane, James T., Chan, Ngai H., Taylor, G. Jeffrey, Wieczorek, Mark A., Kiefer, Walter S., Williams, James G. |
| Contributors | Univ Arizona, Dept Planetary Sci, Lunar & Planetary Lab, Department of Planetary Sciences; Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona; Tucson Arizona USA, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences; University of California; Santa Cruz California USA, Department of Planetary Sciences; Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona; Tucson Arizona USA, Department of Planetary Sciences; Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona; Tucson Arizona USA, Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology; University of Hawaii; Honolulu Háwaii USA, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris; Paris France, Lunar and Planetary Institute; Houston Texas USA, Jet Propulsion Laboratory; Institute of Technology; Pasadena California USA |
| Publisher | GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS |
| Source Sets | University of Arizona |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Article |
| Rights | ©2016. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved. |
| Relation | http://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/2016GL069952 |
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