On the development of the crater population on the moon with time under meteoroid and solar wind bombardment

In this paper a theory is evaluated to describe the development of the lunar crater population with time under the bombardment by meteoroids and solar wind. Starting from a general mass distribution law a differential equation has been established and solved separately for meteoroid impact and solar wind bombardment. The theory permits the calculation of absolute formation ages of the lunar surface as well as the particle flux, supposing the crater distributions on the moon have been measured. As an important result it includes a D⁻² equilibrium crater distribution law (D =crater diameter), actually measured in Mare Tranquillitatis and Oceanus Procellarum. Additionally, the exponential decrease of particle flux with time is confirmed.