Abstract
Spectrometers based on acousto-optic tunable filters (AOTFs) have several advantages, such as stable temperature adaptability, no moving parts, and wavelength selection through electrical modulation, compared with the traditional grating and Fourier transform spectrometers. Therefore, AOTF spectrometers can realize stable in situ measurement on the lunar surface under wide temperature ranges and low light environments. AOTF imaging spectrometers were first employed for in situ measurement of the lunar surface in the Chinese Chang’e project. The visible and near-infrared imaging spectrometer and the lunar mineralogical spectrometer have been successfully deployed on board the Chang’e-3/4 and Chang’e-5 missions. In this review, we investigate the performance indicators, structural design, selected AOTF performance parameters, data acquisition of the three lunar in situ spectral instruments used in the Chang’e missions. In addition, we also show the scientific achievement of lunar technology based on in situ spectral data.
Highlights
Compared to remote sensing spectral measurement and post-sampling laboratory spectral measurement, in situ spectral measurement allows one to investigate targets at close range with millimeter resolution, without destroying the original state of the target
The Yutu lunar rover in the Chang’e-3 mission carried the visible and near-infrared imaging spectrometers (VNIS), which was the first acousto-optic tunable filters (AOTFs) hyperspectral imager to realize in situ measurement in deep space [16,26,27,28,29]
Payloads in the form of AOTF spectrometers have the advantages of small volume, low mass, and high spatial adaptability, which are very suitable for in situ spectral detection at close range on the lunar surface
Summary
Compared to remote sensing spectral measurement and post-sampling laboratory spectral measurement, in situ spectral measurement allows one to investigate targets at close range with millimeter resolution, without destroying the original state of the target This leads to intriguing possibilities for studying surface topography and material composition [1]. The acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) is an electronically tunable dispersive optical device without any moving parts It can change the wavelength of the output diffracted light by controlling the input radio frequency (RF) [3]. VNIS onboard Chang’e-3 was the first instrument to realize in situ imaging spectral measurement of the lunar surface. We report the design, performance specifications, and performance test results of the three AOTF spectrometers used for lunar in situ measurement in the Chang’e mission. The effectiveness and results of the AOTF spectrometers are briefly described
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