Light Noble Gases from Solar Wind Regimes Measured in Genesis Collectors from Different Arrays

Introduction: The Genesis Mission carried four collector arrays which where exposed to the solar wind depending upon solar conditions, representing the major solar regimes: Interstream is the “normal” SW, <500km/s, collected for 334 days by the L-array; Coronal Hole wind with speeds about 500-800 km/s was collected by the H-array for 313 days; the highest average and variable speed, Coronal Mass Ejection ions, were collected by the E-array for 193 days and the B & C arrays, which were exposed as long as the Science Return Capsule lid was open, collected bulk SW. Ionization depends somewhat on the first ionization potental, though perhaps differently for different regimes, although little is known about this quantitatively. Therefore, we attempt, in this study, to compare He and Ne isotopic compositions in AloS (Aluminum on Sapphire) collectors from different regime arrays. Samples: It would have been impossible to associate the numerous fragments of AloS collectors after the “hard” landing except for the clever forethought of making each array with a different thickness.