MERTIS: system theory and simulation

Abstract

The deep-space ESA mission BepiColombo to planet Mercury will contain the advanced infrared remote sensing instrument MERTIS (MErcury Radiometer and Thermal infrared Imaging Spectrometer). The mission has the goal to explore the planets inner and surface structure and its environment. With MERTIS investigations of Mercury's surface layer within a spectral range of 7-14μm shall be conducted to specify and map Mercury's mineralogical composition with a spatial resolution of 500m. Due to the limited mass and power budget the used micro-bolometer detector array will only have a temperature-stabilization and will not be cooled. The theoretical description of the instrument is necessary to estimate the performance of the instrument especially the signal to noise ratio. For that purpose theoretical models are derived from system theory. For a better evaluation and understanding of the instrument performance simulations are performed to compute the passage of the radiation of a hypothetical mineralogical surface composition through the optical system, the influence of the inner instrument radiation and the conversion of the overall radiation into a detector voltage and digital output signal. The results of the simulation can support the optimization process of the instrument parameters and could also assist the analysis of gathered scientific data. The simulation tool can be used as well for performance estimations of MERTIS-like systems for future projects.