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Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer onboard Chandrayaan-2 Rover


Affiliations
1 Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad 380 009, India
2 Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad 380 015, India
3 U.R. Rao Satellite Centre, Bengaluru 560 017, India
 

Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) is one of the two scientific experiments on Chandrayaan-2 rover named as Pragyan. The primary scientific objective of APXS is to determine the elemental composition of the lunar surface in the surrounding regions of the landing site. This will be achieved by employing the technique of X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy using in situ excitation source 244Cm emitting both X-rays and alpha particles. These radiations excite characteristic X-rays of the elements by the processes of particle induced X-ray emission and XRF. The characteristic X-rays are detected by the ‘state-of-the-art’ X-ray detector known as Silicon Drift Detector, which provides high energy resolution, as well as high efficiency in the energy range of 1–25 keV. This enables APXS to detect all major rock forming elements such as, Na, Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Ti and Fe. The flight model of the APXS payload has been completed and tested for various instrument parameters. The APXS provides energy resolution of ~135 eV at 5. 9keV for the detector operating temperature of about –35°C. The design details and the performance measurement of APXS are presented in this paper.

Keywords

Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer, CSPA, Silicon Drift Detector, X-Ray Spectrometer.
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  • Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer onboard Chandrayaan-2 Rover

Abstract Views: 383  |  PDF Views: 139

Authors

M. Shanmugam
Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad 380 009, India
S. V. Vadawale
Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad 380 009, India
Arpit R. Patel
Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad 380 009, India
N. P. S. Mithun
Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad 380 009, India
Hitesh Kumar Adalaja
Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad 380 009, India
Tinkal Ladiya
Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad 380 009, India
Shiv Kumar Goyal
Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad 380 009, India
Neeraj K. Tiwari
Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad 380 009, India
Nishant Singh
Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad 380 009, India
Sushil Kumar
Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad 380 009, India
Deepak Kumar Painkra
Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad 380 009, India
A. K. Hait
Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad 380 015, India
A. Patinge
Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad 380 015, India
Abhishek Kumar
U.R. Rao Satellite Centre, Bengaluru 560 017, India
Saleem Basha
U.R. Rao Satellite Centre, Bengaluru 560 017, India
Vivek R. Subramanian
U.R. Rao Satellite Centre, Bengaluru 560 017, India
R. G. Venkatesh
U.R. Rao Satellite Centre, Bengaluru 560 017, India
D. B. Prashant
U.R. Rao Satellite Centre, Bengaluru 560 017, India
Sonal Navle
U.R. Rao Satellite Centre, Bengaluru 560 017, India
Y. B. Acharya
Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad 380 009, India
S. V. S. Murty
Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad 380 009, India
Anil Bhardwaj
Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad 380 009, India

Abstract


Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) is one of the two scientific experiments on Chandrayaan-2 rover named as Pragyan. The primary scientific objective of APXS is to determine the elemental composition of the lunar surface in the surrounding regions of the landing site. This will be achieved by employing the technique of X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy using in situ excitation source 244Cm emitting both X-rays and alpha particles. These radiations excite characteristic X-rays of the elements by the processes of particle induced X-ray emission and XRF. The characteristic X-rays are detected by the ‘state-of-the-art’ X-ray detector known as Silicon Drift Detector, which provides high energy resolution, as well as high efficiency in the energy range of 1–25 keV. This enables APXS to detect all major rock forming elements such as, Na, Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Ti and Fe. The flight model of the APXS payload has been completed and tested for various instrument parameters. The APXS provides energy resolution of ~135 eV at 5. 9keV for the detector operating temperature of about –35°C. The design details and the performance measurement of APXS are presented in this paper.

Keywords


Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer, CSPA, Silicon Drift Detector, X-Ray Spectrometer.

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv118%2Fi1%2F53-61