REMOTE SENSING OF CIRCULARLY POLARIZED LIGHT FROM ORBIT OF PLANET MERCURY BY THE ESA MISSION BEPICOLOMBO

摘要

Circularly polarized electromagnetic radiation can be measured with earth based telescopes in galaxies, stars, the interstellar medium, and planets. The observed values for Venus, Moon, Mars, and Jupiter obtained by photo-polarimetric measurements were 'symmetric' and showed accordance with theory. However, for planet Mercury asymmetric parameters in the circular polarization were measured that do not fit with calculations. For BepiColombo, the ESA cornerstone mission 5 to Mercury, we propose to investigate this phenomenon using a concept which includes two instruments. The first instrument is a high-resolution optical polarimeter, capable to determine and map the circular polarization by remote scanning of Mercury's surface from the Mercury Planetary Orbiter MPO. The second instrument is an in situ sensor for the detection of the enantiomorphism of surface crystals and minerals, proposed to be included in the Mercury Surface Lander MSE. With this combination of instruments we hope to supply crucial information on the origin of biomolecular asymmetry. The required instrumentation will be presented and discussed.