Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Dielectric Breakdown of Lunar Regolith: Implications for Water Ice Formation on Lunar Surface

Molecular dynamics simulations are carried out to investigate dielectric breakdown of lunar regolith induced by space weather events and its potential effects on water ice formation on lunar surface. We find that dielectric breakdown can trigger the water formation process by breaking the chemical bonds of regolith grains and exposing the oxygen atoms to react with the hydrogen implanted by solar wind. In the permanently shadowed region, the water molecules formed become attached to regolith grains in the molecular structure of ice after the event. Thus, dielectric breakdown can also enable the preservation of water molecules by changing the hydrophobicity of regolith grains.