Dr Miriam Estefania Cisneros Gonzalez

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.

Abstract:

MAJIS is part of the science payload of the JUICE mission to be launched in 2022. BIRA-IASB and 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, as well as the data processing pipeline. The VIS-NIR detectors are thermalized within a temperature range from 125 K to 150 K during their characterization campaigns. Moreover, the temperature of their electronic units must always remain above 120 K to avoid any irreparable damage, and below 160 K for operative conditions. Likewise, to avoid any risk of contamination, the detector should preferably be operated below 10-5 mbar of vacuum. To fulfill these requirements, a complete security system was developed; it includes redundant thermal control loops, alarms from every pressure and temperature monitoring devices in use, and a robust semi-automatic control system for the pumping and cryocooling equipment. Moreover, the security system is complemented by the Temperature Ground Support Equipment (TGSE), which provides a LabVIEW user-friendly interface to communicate the status of the detector and the vacuum chamber in real-time. This subsystem was successfully validated in May 2020, before the delivery of the FM detector in June 2020. In this paper, we summarize the design, implementation and validation tests of the security system as well as the thermal and vacuum performances of the facility. We also show the thermal behavior of the detector during acquisitions representative of typical MAJIS observations.