Development and Characterization of the SHERLOC instrument for Mars 2020

Abstract:

The Scanning Habitable Environments with Raman & Luminescence for Organics & Chemicals (SHERLOC) investigation is part of the Mars 2020 integrated payload. SHERLOC enables non-contact, spatially resolved, and highly sensitivity detection and characterization of organics and minerals in the Martian surface and near subsurface. SHERLOC is an arm-mounted, Deep UV (DUV) resonance Raman and fluorescence spectrometer utilizing a 248.6-nm DUV laser.

Deep UV induced native fluorescence is very sensitive to condensed carbon and aromatic organics, enabling detection at or below 10^-6 w/w (1 ppm) at <100 µm spatial scales. SHERLOC’s deep UV resonance Raman enables detection and classification of aromatic and aliphatic organics with sensitivities of 10^-2 to below 10^-4 w/w. In addition to organics, the deep UV Raman enables detection and classification of minerals relevant to aqueous chemistry with grain sizes below 20 µm.

We will present current the flight architecture of the instrument after the Principal Design Review as well as analysis of martian relevant samples taken with the Brassboard version instrument. The Brassboard version is similar to the flight version design in terms of its optical design, and includes the capability to image, autofocus, and spatially scan a 7x7 mm area. We will be using this Brassboard instrument to determine sensitivities, work on operational strategies and analyzing scientifically relevant samples in preparation for use on Mars.