Development of X-ray Generator for Active X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy of Future Lunar Landing Mission and Its Contribution to Lunar Science

Abstract

Active X-ray fluorescence Spectrometer (AXS) is designed and developed as an elemental analyzer to induce fluorescence X-rays from rock samples without radioactive sources for future lunar and planetary landing missions in Japan. Pyroelectric crystal is applied for X-ray generator because of its compact package, lightweight, low-power consumption, and radioactive source-free. As the X-ray emission intensity from Pyroelectric X-ray Generator (PXG) is not strong enough to be applied for space missions, we have been developing the PXG with an increased intensity to be used in future lunar and planetary landing missions. In future landing mission to the Moon, several putative landing sites are expected in the Procellarum KREEP Terrane and South Pole-Aitken Terrane, which are interesting for investigating lunar igneous activity and mantle composition, respectively. In this paper, the current status of development and science targets of AXS is reported and discussed.