Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
2.4.2.
Mercury radiometer and thermal infrared spectrometer
It is the goal of Mercury radiometer and thermal infrared spectrometer
(MERTIS) to provide detailed information about the mineralogical com-
position of Mercury's surface layer by globally mapping spectral emittance
with a high spectral resolution. The MERTIS will cover a wavelength range
from7to14
µ
m with a spectral resolution up to 90 nm. This allows detect-
ing and identifying the characteristic features of the surface minerals in this
spectral region, such as the Christiansen frequencies, reststrahlen bands,
and transparency features. In addition MERTIS will be able to measure
thermo physical properties of the surface like thermal inertia and surface
texture. The MERTIS is an IR-imaging spectrometer, which will make
use of the micro-bolometer technology where no cooling is required. The
MERTIS will globally map the planet with a spatial resolution of 500 m.
2.4.3.
Mercury imaging X-ray spectrometer
The Mercury imaging X-ray spectrometer (MIXS) instrument is designed
to perform X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis of the surface of Mercury.
The XRF is a well-known technique used for remote sensing the atomic
composition of airless, inner solar system bodies. The primary scientific
goal of MIXS is to produce global elemental abundance maps of key-rock
forming elements to an accuracy of 10-20%. If solar conditions permit,
high-spatial resolution mapping of these elemental abundances will take
place. A third scientific objective is to confirm whether the auroral zone,
where energetic particles interact with the surface, is an intense source of
continuum and line X-rays. In order to achieve its science objectives, MIXS
consists of two channels — the MIXS-C, a collimator providing ecient
flux collection over a broad range of energies with a wide field of view for
planetary mapping and the MIXS-T, an imaging telescope with a narrow
field for high-resolution measurements of the surface.
2.4.4.
The solar intensity X-ray and particle spectrometer
The objective of the solar intensity X-ray and particle spectrometer (SIXS)
is to perform measurements of X-rays and particles of solar origin. The
instrument is capable of broadband measurements of X-ray, proton, and
electron spectra with high-time resolution and a very wide field-of-view.
Data provided by SIXS are mandatory for a valid fluorescence analysis of
MIXS spectra. The solar X-ray monitor is also the single source of this
