Abstract: Chemically inert noble gases are presumed to be the best tracers for the volatile evolution history of solar system matter. Noble gas signatures in meteoritic, lunar, and planetary materials enable us to infer processes that changed their isotopic records. The measured volatile signatures of extraterrestrial material require corrections for the in situ produced components such as cosmic-ray-induced production of nuclides. Several low- and high-energy proton irradiated targets were measured to quantify the solar and galactic cosmic-ray induced production of isotopes in extraterrestrial matter. Production rates for cosmic-ray induced reactions are determined from the measurement of lunar samples. These measurements also characterize the solar and indigenous signatures of nitrogen and noble gases.
SNC (Shergottites, Nakhlites and Chassigny) meteorites provide a unique opportunity to study material from another planet. The noble gas isotopic signatures in Martian meteorites are reviewed with a focus on the evolution of the atmospheric composition over the eons. Volatile signature of Martian interior and its relationships to modern atmospheric reservoirs is addressed.
