Neutron-induced gamma-ray measurements on soft landers

Gamma-ray spectra provide useful data in the study of the development of planets. Measurements made on landers overcome many of the limitations of orbital measurements, especially for solar-system bodies where atmospheres interfere with obtaining orbital data. Elemental compositions can be inferred from the spectra, produced by neutron interactions with nuclei of the planetary body. The cosmic ray flux yields a relatively low neutron flux requiring long integration times (sometimes as long as a year) to obtain a statistical accuracy allowing elemental compositions to be inferred to determine different mineral compositions and to characterize the nature of the area studied. A recent advance is the combination of a gamma-ray spectrometer with a compact, pulsed neutron generator, which increases the neutron flux by orders of magnitude. Such a device is used on Earth and its capability is being extended to operate within the low weight and power requirements of typical lander missions. A pulsed source permits data accumulation by type of reaction, increasing the sensitivity for detecting many elements. The enhanced speed of measurement makes many new studies possible, such as time-dependent measurements to detect seasonal or diurnal changes from active processes. Where motion is provided, either around the lander or on a rover, data can be obtained at different positions to evaluate heterogeneities. The use of a pulsed neutron generator provides increased quality of elemental data and provides many additional options for system design to provide more useful information for understanding the creation and evolution of our solar system.