Miniature semiconductor neutron spectrometer HardPix for surface mapping of lunar water
- NázevTitle
- Miniature semiconductor neutron spectrometer HardPix for surface mapping of lunar waterMiniature semiconductor neutron spectrometer HardPix for surface mapping of lunar water
- Druh výsledkuResult type
- Článek v časopiseJournal article
- AutořiAuthors
- R. Filgas, M. Malich, S. Pospíšil, B. Bergmann, T. Slavíček
- Klíčová slovaKeywords
- Timepix, HardPix, Lunar water, Neutron detector, radiation monitor
- DOIDOI
- 10.1016/j.actaastro.2022.09.018
- Časopis / citaceJournal / citation
- Acta Astronautica 200, 620-625 (2022) · ISSN 0094-5765
- RokYear
- 2022
- JazykLanguage
- eng
- ZáznamyRecords
- ProjektProject
- Institucionální podpora na rozvoj výzkumné org.Institucionální podpora na rozvoj výzkumné org.
- CitovánoCited by
- 7 (OpenAlex)
- Citace ke staženíDownload citation
- TXT · BibTeX
AbstraktAbstract
A current renaissance of lunar exploration enables to search for lunar water deposits directly on the surface of the Moon with robotic rovers. We present a novel miniature semiconductor neutron spectrometer capable of mapping the water deposits using non-invasive detection of neutrons created underground by cosmic rays and thermalized by hydrogen. This prospecting package consists of a radiation detector to monitor the cosmic rays background, a thermal/epithermal neutron detector to measure flux of neutrons moderated by water, and a gamma spectrometer suitable for monitoring local changes of major elemental components of the lunar regolith. Using miniature semiconductor detectors allows to deploy them even on small commercial rovers where resources are extremely limited. The prospecting package is being developed for ispace lunar rover and studied for ESA EL3 rover. It is based on Timepix pixel sensors, with space heritage onboard NASA, ESA and JAXA vessels.
A current renaissance of lunar exploration enables to search for lunar water deposits directly on the surface of the Moon with robotic rovers. We present a novel miniature semiconductor neutron spectrometer capable of mapping the water deposits using non-invasive detection of neutrons created underground by cosmic rays and thermalized by hydrogen. This prospecting package consists of a radiation detector to monitor the cosmic rays background, a thermal/epithermal neutron detector to measure flux of neutrons moderated by water, and a gamma spectrometer suitable for monitoring local changes of major elemental components of the lunar regolith. Using miniature semiconductor detectors allows to deploy them even on small commercial rovers where resources are extremely limited. The prospecting package is being developed for ispace lunar rover and studied for ESA EL3 rover. It is based on Timepix pixel sensors, with space heritage onboard NASA, ESA and JAXA vessels.