Instrument Information
IDENTIFIER urn:nasa:pds:context:instrument:dan.msl::1.1
NAME DYNAMIC ALBEDO OF NEUTRONS
TYPE SPECTROMETER
DESCRIPTION The Dynamic Albedo of Neutrons (DAN) is an active/passive neutron spectrometer that measures the abundance and depth distribution of H- and OH-bearing materials (e.g., adsorbed water, hydrated minerals) in a shallow layer (~1 m) of Mars' subsurface along the path of the MSL rover. In active mode, DAN measures the time decay curve (the 'dynamic albedo') of the neutron flux from the subsurface induced by its pulsing 14 MeV neutron source. The DAN instrument is expected to be used during rover traverses (e.g., during short stops at ~1 m intervals) and while the rover is parked. Short-duration (< 2 min) measurements will provide a rough estimate of the water-equivalent hydrogen distribution with an accuracy of ~1% by weight. Longer-duration (~30 min) measurements are necessary to derive the vertical distribution of water-equivalent hydrogen with an accuracy of 0.1-0.3% by weight. DAN performs layering structure analyses of the Martian sub-surface, to measure the distribution of H- and OH-bearing materials, with a vertical resolution of < 1 m and horizontal resolutions of 0.5 - 100 m along the path of the rover.
MODEL IDENTIFIER
NAIF INSTRUMENT IDENTIFIER
SERIAL NUMBER not applicable
REFERENCES Litvak, M., et al., The Dynamic Albedo of Neutrons (DAN) Experiment for NASA's 2009 Mars Science Laboratory, Astrobiology, Volume 8, Number 3, 2008.