MAJIS/JUICE VIS-NIR FM and SM detectors characterization

Abstract

MAJIS (Moons And Jupiter Imaging Spectrometer) is one of the science instruments of the ESA L-Class mission JUICE (Jupiter ICy Moons Explorer) to be launched in 2022 with an arrival at Jupiter in 2030. MAJIS will perform imaging spectroscopy through two channels: VIS-NIR (0.50 um - 2.35 um) and IR (2.25 μm - 5.54 μm). The Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BIRA-IASB) and the Royal Observatory of Belgium (ROB) contribute to MAJIS with the characterization of the VIS-NIR Flight Model (FM) and Spare Model (SM) detectors, including the design, development and validation of the setup, and the data processing pipeline. Typical detector characterization measurements were performed during the campaigns but also calibrated measurements such as Quantum Efficiency (QE). Since some of the characterization measurements require different illumination conditions, temperature, beam uniformity, exposure time, and/or data acquisition procedure, the characterization setup is configurable for dark conditions, uniform light beam, and convergent beam with same focal ratio as MAJIS convergence optics. The thermal-vacuum characterization facility was completed at BIRA-IASB premises and was subjected to validation tests on late 2019 and early 2020. MAJIS VIS-NIR FM detector was delivered for its complete characterization in June 2020; SM characterization shall be performed after time of meeting. In this paper, we summarize the optical and thermal performances of the facility, the detector's mechanical integration method and its optical alignment into the setup, the security system implemented, the general operation of the setup during the characterization campaign, and FM preliminary result analyses.