Measuring and interpreting X-ray fluorescence from planetary surfaces.
As part of a comprehensive study of X-ray emission from planetary surfaces and in particular the planet Mercury, we have measured fluorescent radiation from a number of planetary analog rock samples using monochromatized synchrotron radiation provided by the BESSY II electron storage ring. The experiments were carried out using a purpose built X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer chamber developed by the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Germany's national metrology institute. The XRF instrumentation is absolutely calibrated and allows for reference-free quantitation of rock sample composition, taking into account secondary photon- and electron-induced enhancement effects. The fluorescence data, in turn, have been used to validate a planetary fluorescence simulation tool based on the GEANT4 transport code. This simulation can be used as a mission analysis tool to predict the time-dependent orbital XRF spectral distributions from planetary surfaces throughout the mapping phase.
Science Payload and Advanced Concepts Office, ESA/ESTEC, 2200AG Noordwijk, The Netherlands. aowens@rssd.esa.int
Alan
A
Owens
Burkhard
B
Beckhoff
George
G
Fraser
Michael
M
Kolbe
Michael
M
Krumrey
Alfonso
A
Mantero
Michael
M
Mantler
Anthony
A
Peacock
Maria-Grazia
MG
Pia
Derek
D
Pullan
Uwe G
UG
Schneider
Gerhard
G
Ulm