Physics
Scientific paper
Dec 2005
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2005agufm.p41b0937s&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2005, abstract #P41B-0937
Physics
5430 Interiors (8147), 5494 Instruments And Techniques, 6235 Mercury
Scientific paper
The BepiColombo Laser Altiometer BELA is being developed by a consortium led by Physikalisches Institut, Universitat Bern and the DLR Institute of Planetary Research Berlin. The laser is foreseen to be passively Q-switched and longitudinally pumped with pulse energy of up to 50mJ, a pulse frequency of 10Hz and a pulse duration of a few nanoseconds. BELA aims to measure the figure axes of the planet to 10m accuracy and the topography with a single-shot ranging accuracy of 1m and with a grid spacing of a few hundred meters along-track. In addition, attempts will be made to measure the tidal deformation of the planet which, as model calculations have shown, should be on the order of a meter. The Laser Altimeter data will also provide constraints on the surface roughness from the divergence of the reflected laser signal, terrain slopes, and the surface albedo. It is even possible that the Laser Altimeter may provide constraints on the possible existence of ice in permanently shaded craters near the poles. Here, the Laser Altimeter will profit from providing its own illumination source. The instrument will work synergetically with both the radio science experiment (for gravity field measurements) and the stereo camera on BepiColombo. The Laser Altimeter topography data will be used to correct the gravity measurements for the effects of surface topography and thereby allow an assessment of the interior structure of the planet including the lateral variations of the crust thickness and of the core radius. The Laser Altimeter and the stereo camera will work together to provide an accurate digital terrain model. This model will be used to make quantitative studies of surface morphology, and to assess the role of volcanism and the tectonics of the planet. Prominent features of the topography known to us today such as lobate scarps will be measured accurately and provide important constraints on the cooling history of the planet.
Christensen Ulrich
Gunderson Kurt
Hilchenbach Martin
Michaelis Harald
Oberst Jürgen
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